Ten States Boycott 16-Day Trump Fair Over $100,000 Costs and Partisan Fears
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19
Ten States Boycott 16-Day Trump Fair Over $100,000 Costs and Partisan Fears
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19
Summary
Ten states — Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington — will skip official participation in the Great American State Fair, a 16-day festival opening June 25 on the National Mall.
North Carolina estimated its pavilion alone would cost $100,000 before staffing, and several states said they would not use taxpayer money for exhibits tied to the event.
Oregon cited growing concern that the Washington celebration was becoming more partisan than advertised, while some states may still allow private groups to represent them instead of official delegations.
The boycott hits a marquee event in Trump's Freedom 250 program, which displaced plans from America250, the bipartisan body Congress created to organize the nation's 250th anniversary.