The Great American State Fair opened Wednesday night on the National Mall with President Donald Trump front and center, turning the kickoff into a celebration of both the country and himself. The 16-day exposition, imagined as a modern-day world’s fair, marks the start of festivities honoring America’s upcoming 250th birthday.

“Tonight, as we stand at the edge of our 250th year, I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump told the crowd. He went on to claim the nation had been “dead” a short time ago but was now the “hottest country anywhere in the world,” respected by everyone.

A Rocky Road to Opening Night

The Great American State Fair didn’t reach its debut without friction. Organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership Trump created and which describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit, the event ran into controversy last month when several booked musical artists pulled out.

Performers including rapper Young MC and country singer Martina McBride backed out, citing discomfort with appearing at an event so closely tied to the Trump White House. Rather than treat the cancellations as a setback, Trump leaned into them, writing himself into the lineup as the headliner.

The result was an unusually disciplined performance from a president known for sprawling, hour-plus speeches. This time he wrapped up in roughly 30 minutes and largely stuck to his script.

Trump’s Message: “The Best Is Yet to Come”

Trump framed the anniversary as both a moment of pride and a call to aim higher. He promised future generations “the richest inheritance, most advanced civilization and highest standard of living in human history,” before adding his familiar refrain that “the best is yet to come.”

Country singer Lee Greenwood welcomed him to the stage with a live rendition of “God Bless the U.S.A.” From behind bulletproof glass, with the Washington Monument lit up in the background and Freedom 250 signage everywhere, Trump also touted a recent memorandum of understanding aimed at ending U.S. conflict with Iran.

He declared that the agreement would fully open the Strait of Hormuz and ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, even though final details reportedly remain under negotiation.

A Patriotic Spectacle

The evening leaned heavily on military pageantry. Before Trump spoke, fighter jets roared overhead and military bands performed. The U.S. Marine Band accompanied country singer Alexis Wilkins, who is the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, as she sang the national anthem. Later, the U.S. Army Band Downrange played a version of “Gloria,” a familiar tune at Trump rallies.

The warmup speeches set a sharply partisan tone. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised the military bands as far better than the artists who canceled, using a derogatory term for progressives, and called Trump the greatest president since George Washington. Monica Crowley, the administration’s chief of protocol, described Trump as the movement’s “greatest champion.”

Culture War Themes and the Reflecting Pool

Trump touched on hot-button issues that energized his 2024 base, including policies on gender and transgender care, and reiterated his stance that there are only two genders.

He also addressed the ongoing saga of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, repeating unverified claims that vandals had damaged it. As part of a rehabilitation project exceeding $14 million, a new liner and coating in a shade he named “American flag blue” were installed ahead of the celebration. Recent images, however, show the sealant peeling away and algae turning the water green.

Trump insisted the pool had been “gruesomely vandalized” but would soon look beautiful again, claiming it already looked “perfect” despite the visible problems.

Inside the Crowd

People began filtering in during the late afternoon, picking up American flag placards and claiming spots on the lawn. Some sought shade in a picnic area, where a Florida Bible ministry offered prayers to passersby. Merchandise tables did brisk business selling red “America Is Back” caps modeled after Trump’s signature hats, along with Freedom 250 shirts and souvenirs. A few attendees were disappointed to learn no alcohol was being served.

Of the more than 1,000 people present, roughly half wore Trump slogans or his likeness, making clear that for many, the president, not the anniversary, was the main draw.

Edward X. Young of Brick, New Jersey, said it was his 116th Trump rally. A longtime supporter, he recalled celebrating the nation’s bicentennial 50 years ago and said he couldn’t pass up the chance to witness history again.

Others framed the night differently. Shannon Silveri, a Washington-area resident sympathetic to Trump, called it a “nonpartisan” celebration of a milestone birthday she wouldn’t miss for anything.

And for some, the politics were beside the point entirely. Mary Smith of North Ridgeville, Ohio, who described herself as “MAGA-ish,” said the president wasn’t her reason for attending. She remembered the bicentennial as a child and wanted to be present for this moment too.

“To me, it doesn’t matter who the president is. It’s still my country,” Smith said. “I would be here no matter who the president was.”

The Great American State Fair now runs for 16 days, offering a mix of patriotic spectacle, political messaging, and old-fashioned fairground fun as the country counts down to its semiquincentennial.