Three States Decline Trump's Great American State Fair
President Trump billed it as a unifying celebration of American identity. Several states have decided not to participate.
Three state governments — Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina — have formally declined invitations to showcase their states at the Great American State Fair, a 16-day national exposition scheduled to open on June 25 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Pennsylvania has not yet made a final decision. The event, organised under the Freedom 250 public-private partnership, is part of the broader US 250th anniversary celebrations and was originally conceived as a World's Fair-style event featuring pavilions from every state and territory.
According to CNN, officials from all three declining states cited costs as a primary factor — but Oregon went further, raising concerns about the event's increasingly partisan character.
Why States Are Saying No
The reasons vary by state, but the pattern is consistent: the event's association with the Trump administration has made participation politically complicated for Democratic-led governments.
"The State of Oregon will not be participating in the Great American State Fair due to both the cost of participating in the Fair and growing concerns that the event in Washington D.C. is shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented," a spokesperson for Oregon Governor Tina Kotek told CNN.
Each state invited to participate was offered 600 square feet of exhibit space to showcase its culture, history, and industries. The logistical costs of designing, building, transporting, and staffing a pavilion on the National Mall for 16 days represent a significant budget commitment — particularly for state tourism agencies whose annual budgets are not built around federal event participation.
Freedom 250, the organisation coordinating the event, said in response that all 50 states and territories would still be represented at the fair — through other organisations, if not through direct state government participation. The body described the event as "nonpartisan and inclusive."
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An Event That Has Already Been Reshaped
The state participation story is the latest complication for a fair that has undergone significant changes since it was first announced.
The Great American State Fair was originally planned as a concert-heavy celebration with a major musical lineup. That plan unravelled in May when multiple musical artists dropped out, citing the event's associations with the Trump administration. According to The Washington Post, Trump's advisers quickly reorganised around a different approach — replacing the concert with a Trump rally on June 24, the evening before the fair officially opens.
Trump announced the change on Truth Social, calling it "a Rally to end all Rallies" and dismissing the departed artists: "We don't want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we've told them all to stay home."
The opening ceremony on June 24 at 7:00 PM will now feature Trump as headliner, alongside Lee Greenwood performing "God Bless the U.S.A.", Christopher Macchio singing "Ave Maria," the U.S. Army Band, and the Armed Forces Choir. Freedom 250 has described Trump as the "visionary behind the Great American State Fair."
Newsweek reported that despite the entertainment shake-up, the broader fair programming — themed daily exhibits, cultural showcases, and nationwide satellite events — remains on schedule.
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The Broader Freedom 250 Picture
The Great American State Fair is one element of the larger Freedom 250 initiative — a White House-backed public-private partnership coordinating multiple events tied to the US 250th anniversary.
The programme also includes UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on June 14, the Salute to America 250 fireworks celebration on July 4, and a Patriot Games national fitness competition in August. A FIFA World Cup 2026 fan zone in Washington is also part of the broader footprint.
The fair itself runs from June 25 through July 10 — a 16-day window that organisers say will draw visitors from across the country to the National Mall, with daily themed programming and exhibits regardless of how many state governments choose to set up official pavilions.
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Key Takeaways
- Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina have formally declined invitations to participate in Trump's Great American State Fair, opening June 25 on the National Mall.
- Officials cited costs as the primary reason; Oregon also referenced concerns about the event's partisan character.
- Pennsylvania has not yet made a final decision on participation.
- Freedom 250 says all 50 states will still be represented through non-government organisations, even without direct state participation.
- The fair's original concert lineup collapsed after multiple artists withdrew — Trump replaced it with a rally on June 24, headlined by himself alongside Lee Greenwood and the U.S. Army Band.
- The fair runs from June 25 through July 10 as part of the broader US 250th anniversary Freedom 250 programme.
Sources
- CNN — Several States Are Bowing Out of Trump's Great American State Fair
- The Washington Post — Trump to Headline Great American State Fair After Music Acts Cancel
- Newsweek — Freedom 250: List of Events After Trump's Great American State Fair Is Modified
- NBC News — Trump Suggests Canceling Music Performances at the Great American State Fair
