President Donald Trump treated the kickoff of the Great American State Fair as a victory lap for the U.S. and for himself. The event, organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump, marked the beginning of the 16-day exposition to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Trump’s Speech
Trump spoke from behind bulletproof glass on a stage decked out in Freedom 250 and Great American State Fair signage. He declared that America is back and that the country is respected by everybody. He also referenced the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding to end the U.S. war in Iran.
Trump’s speech was unusually short, lasting about 30 minutes, and he stuck to familiar talking points. He briefly touched on a hot-button cultural issue, saying that the U.S. government has banned pediatric gender treatments and made it official policy that there are only two genders – male and female.
Event Details
The event featured a pre-speech spectacle with fighter jet flyovers and military bands. The U.S. Marine Band accompanied country singer Alexis Wilkins as she performed the national anthem. Later, the U.S. Army Band Downrange offered a rendition of Laura Branigan’s cover of ‘Gloria’ – a staple at Trump rallies.
Attendees began arriving in the late afternoon, grabbing American flag placards and seats on the lawn. Others sought shade in a picnic area, where members of a bible ministry from Florida offered to pray for passersby. Merchandise tables sold red ‘America Is Back’ baseball caps and an assortment of Freedom 250 shirts, scarves, and knickknacks.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
