Geoff Bennett:
For the past few weeks, visitors have flocked to the National Mall for the Great American State Fair, part of the celebration marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
But in this milestone year, President Trump’s approach to commemorating the anniversary has injected a more partisan tone into events meant to bring Americans together.
Liz Landers reports now from the fair.
Liz Landers:
America’s 250th birthday went off with a bang last weekend, and a Salute to America program on the National Mall, complete with military flyovers, patriotic songs, and President Trump center stage speaking for more than a half-hour, weaving American history…
President Donald Trump:
American grit, boldness, and daring forged heroes like Davy Crockett, Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Teddy Roosevelt.
Liz Landers:
… with overtly political statements.
Donald Trump:
And all these talks from the communists, they haven’t got a chance, not even a chance. We don’t want communists in our country.
Liz Landers:
This stretch of civic space that has seen inaugurations, protests, and fireworks is now currently playing host to the Great American State Fair organized by Freedom 250, the Trump-aligned group putting on many of the 250th anniversary events in the nation’s capital.
Organizers describe the gathering as a modern-day World’s Fair to celebrate American people, traditions, innovations, and spirit. But the fair has been plagued by record high temperatures, severe weather in Washington, and mocked by critics for low turnout. Many of those that showed up were impressed.
Karl Minacapelli, Maryland Resident:
Look, it’s a rare opportunity to celebrate our country. I was around in ’76 for the bicentennial. They didn’t have anything this grand. I think this is pretty cool.
Liz Landers:
The free event kicked off last month with a rally featuring President Trump and runs through July 10.
Donald Trump:
Tonight, right here on the National Mall, we are beginning the most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen. Oh, you’re going to have a good time.
Liz Landers:
But it’s not been without controversy. Soon after the fair announced a lineup of musical performers, many of them, like country singer Martina McBride and rock performer Bret Michaels of Poison, withdrew from the event.
McBride wrote on social media — quote — “I was presented with the opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but that turned out to be misleading.”
Even one of the president’s supporters that we spoke with acknowledged Trump has made the milestone birthday a bit political.
Do you think he’s made it political?
Jim Sander, Pennsylvania Resident:
Do I believe — a little. I know what he’s thinking, because he says what he thinks.
(LAUGHTER)
Jim Sander:
There’s no guesswork about it.
(LAUGHTER)
Jim Sander:
But he’s his own worst enemy, I think, sometimes.
Liz Landers:
It’s MAHA Monday at the Great American State Fair here. We’re on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and every day has a different theme. Every state and some federal agencies have been invited to participate and put up booths here. And this is all being organized by Freedom 250, which is a Trump-aligned organization, to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
That group, Freedom 250, was formed by an executive order President Trump signed shortly after he was inaugurated, and has produced a number of events, like the Mount Rushmore celebration last week and the upcoming IndyCar race throughout D.C.
But Freedom 250 has been in direct conflict with another group, America 250, a nonpartisan commission established by Congress a decade ago to plan anniversary events. That group hosted a concert on July 4 in Los Angeles and created a time capsule.
But for the fair, its ties to the Trump-aligned group have caused some hiccups and cost the participation of some Democratic-led states.
The governors of both Maine and Connecticut did not send official delegations to the Great American State Fair. There are more than half-dozen states that are not participating. Congressional Democrats have accused the Freedom 250 organization of deceiving donors and misdirecting money intended for the bipartisan America 250 Commission.
A Freedom 250 spokeswoman denies the allegations, calling them a — quote — “partisan smear” that are — quote — “categorically false.”
Matthew Levendusky, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, penned a book on bridging political partisanship. He says, ideally, there would be one bipartisan organization working to celebrate America.
Matthew Levendusky:
When you end up with these competing bodies, right, then even this event and day that should be unifying ends up being divisive and combative because it ends up reinforcing that narrative of polarization and division.
Liz Landers:
The fair has also put another of Trump’s controversial plans front and center as he tries to rebuild public sites in Washington in his image.
One of the sites at the fair is this triumphal arch, which has become a pet project of President Trump’s. The real one, though, is going to be much larger, 250 feet tall.
Hannah Turer lives in Washington and came to the fair to check things out. She said nothing at the event was catching her eye, and it seemed political.
Do you think that this 250th birthday celebration has become political?
Hannah Turer, Washington, D.C., Resident:
Yes, I mean, 100 percent. There’s definitely state booths also that just have Trump’s face plastered everywhere. So it’s not even a celebration of the country. It’s kind of the states that support him are celebrating him mostly, more than just showing off what their state has to offer.
Liz Landers:
Levendusky says that, when Americans reflect on the history of the country at 250 years, for many people, it’s not necessarily political, but it can become politicized.
Matthew Levendusky:
Many people would see this is a day that’s about America without a lot of political context, but that when you do things like, say, give a speech at Mount Rushmore, where you talk about communism, right, and you talk about your enemies, right, that you are setting up a more political context.
So you can bring politics into these things and make them more political, even if they’re not necessarily inherently political on their own.
Liz Landers:
Fairgoers we spoke with do agree on one thing, though. When it comes to America’s future, they hope the country can unite.
Where do you want to see America in 50 years?
Hannah Turer:
I would like to see us just be a more inclusive place. I think the country is very divided right now, and I think it causes a lot of tension between friends, colleagues, families. So it’d be nice if everyone can get a little bit more aligned.
Liz Landers:
What do you hope to see for America in another 50 years?
Cindy Minacapelli, Maryland Resident:
I would like to see the country come together a little bit more. This is probably the most divided in my lifetime I have ever seen.
Liz Landers:
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Liz Landers.
