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The Great American State Fair’s Great Belly Flop

How a Trump-centric celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial succumbed to terrible weather and worse planning.

National Guard members, law enforcement, and event staff try to clear out the grounds of the July 4 celebration on the National Mall ahead of severe weather.

“For your safety, please back away from the stage,” a man’s voice boomed through the speakers of the main stage at the Great American State Fair during a typical sweltering day on the National Mall. It was July 4—the busiest day the fair had seen after a week’s worth of lackluster attendance and early closures due to the heat and drizzling rain. Organized by the private-public group Freedom 250, the fair was meant to be the pride and joy of President Donald Trump—a capstone to a semiquincentennial celebration kicked off by a UFC cage match on the White House lawn for Trump’s 80th birthday. Yet, for a brief moment on the country’s anniversary, it seemed like Trump and the MAGA faithful might have the last laugh over the liberal media (myself included) who had insulted the fair and its attendance: The place was packed.

The moment didn’t last. Wind gusts blew dust onto everyone, lifting up a tent and knocking down a section of the temporary fencing. “For your safety, please back away from the stage,” the frustrated crowd monitor begged again over the sound system.

As the crew slowly lowered the large audio speakers from the sides of the stages, a loud whoosh overhead drew the attention of the crowd. A nearby out-of-state trooper started to take down the decorative Freedom 250 tarps tied to the fences as they flapped ominously in the strong wind. Meanwhile, cheers erupted from the crowd as the planes for the........

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