The Great American State Fair has hit another snag, this time involving a replica of President Donald Trump’s proposed victory arch, which appears to be coming apart at the seams.
On Wednesday, the plywood model — installed at the center of the National Mall — seemed to ooze thick globs of yellow spray foam or some other building material. The substance could be seen seeping above Corinthian columns in a video posted on X that drew more than 700,000 views and hundreds of comments.
“Tacky Temu just like everything he is involved in,” wrote one user, while another chimed in: “Ancient Romans would be laughing their a**** off.”
“Must be the vandals again,” wrote a third X user, who seemed to be referencing Trump’s insistence that “disgraceful vandalism” is to blame for algae blooms and peeling paint at the recently refurbished Reflecting Pool.
Another commenter, seeming to be impersonating the president’s rhetorical style, wrote: “We love the ooze don’t we folks?”
The miniature mock-up — intended to promote Trump’s proposed 250-foot victory arch along the Potomac — had already drawn ridicule for resembling a cheap DIY project. When first unveiled, it appeared notably sparse, lacking the ornate flourishes shown in official design plans. Workers added columns and molding to the facade in recent days.
The Independent has reached out to Freedom 250, the group organizing the fair, for comment.
The Great American State Fair, a weekslong extravaganza meant to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, has been plagued by one setback after another — even before it launched.
In May, virtually every musical act slated to perform withdrew from the event, with several citing its political associations. The following month, a number of blue states — including Washington and Oregon — said they would also decline to participate.
After the Republican president opened the fair on June 24 with a campaign-style speech, he reportedly grew “enraged” upon seeing a photo showing large swaths of the lawn sitting empty.
He later boasted that the event was “packed to the brim” with “at least 45,000 people.” NBC News estimated that “more than 1,000” people turned out, while The Washington Post wrote that the crowd was “smaller than some summer outdoor movie screenings.”
After opening day, the problems continued: a power outage melted ice cream, some state booths appeared sparsely stocked and one musical performance drew attention online for its notably small audience — with the band members seeming to outnumber those in the crowd.
Throughout the past week, photos and videos taken at the fair, which includes a Ferris wheel, rodeo and food hall, appeared to show thin crowds.
Trump, however, has hailed the fair — spearheaded by a public-private partnership he established — as a complete success.
“Do you think people appreciate what a fantastic job we did in building and operating the Great American State Fair at the National Mall, packed with happy people, and everybody loving it?” he wrote on Truth Social on June 29. “Ask yourself this simple question, “DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?” THE ANSWER IS NO!”
