A picture of U.S. President Donald Trump, behind security fencing at the U.S. Department of the Interior, on the day of Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Veteran newsman Jim Acosta mocked the lackluster turnout of President Donald Trump's state fair in Washington, D.C., which has proven to be less popular than state fairs around the country.
"Red, white and algae bloom, is one way to look at all of this," quipped MS NOW host Jacob Soboroff, commenting on the increasing algae spreading through the reflecting pool.
Acosta has spent the week walking around the city to look at some of the things that Trump's off-brand version of "America 250," which he deemed "Freedom 250."
"I mean, the state fair is going over like a day-oldhot dog. I think that might bea good description of it, atthis point," Acosta said.
Conditions were so hot on Friday that organizers called off the fair until later in the afternoon, even as temperatures climbed higher. The National Mall, where the state fair is located, doesn't have any shade and the various state booths aren't connected. So, each attendee keeps opening doors to the various rooms as they move from booth to booth.
Acosta said he went a few days ago when it was about 10 degrees cooler than it is on Saturday.
"Today is going to be, you know, in the immortal words of Adrian Cronauer, not hot, but a setting for London broil. And, you know, it was, it was sort of yet another example of what happens when Donald Trump takes control of a very important project to this country," said Acosta. "It turns into a hugemess."
He compared the construction of the buildings and the disastrous painting of the reflecting pool.
"And, you know, there wasshoddy construction of thevarious exhibitions down there,and I hardly saw any people,you know, lining up at all forany of these exhibits. I mean,I think if they wanted longlines, they could have put Donald Trump in a dunk tank," cracked Acosta.
"Dad jokes aside," Acosta continued, "they are veryworried about what's going tohappen today here in Washington,D.C."
Thus far, the parade has been canceled, and local governments have issued air pollution warnings because the fireworks show is expected to be so large that people may not be able to breathe. The event organizers have made it clear on social media that people can bring clear water bottles to the event and that there will be places to fill them up. However, people are not allowed to bring lawn chairs, ice chests, or any of the items that folks normally bring to the memorials when watching the fireworks shows unless they want to sit outside of the security gates.
"So, this is shaping up, as you might expect when Donald Trump takes over something like this, it is going to be sort of an algae bloom of misery down on the National Mall," said Acosta.
Soboroff said that Democrats are talking about the occasion being taken over by Trump, but that Americans don't even seem to be registering the sense that it's "crazy." He noted that people appear to see it as yet another "example of Trump being Trump."
Acosta maintained that what's unfolding now is "way worse" than what he covered during the first administration.
He went on to mock the "Temu Arch" that is on the National Mall at the state fair. It's a scaled-down version with fewer details, a stapled-on tarp, and what pieces of actual detail that have been added are now leaking a brown substance from the cracks.
As Trump headed to Mount Rushmore on Friday night, his staff continued to promote the idea that he could have his face carved into the granite mountain alongside the other presidents. Acosta joked Trump might consider a Mount Rushmore for the White House with his face on it. Soboroff encouraged Acosta not to give Trump any ideas.
Acosta encouraged Americans to have in the back of their minds that the one thing that is truly American is fighting back against tyrants.