Trump kicks off the Great American State Fair after musical acts pulled out

A number of musical acts backed out of the event on the National Mall last month, concerned about being part of something that appeared political.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump treated the kickoff Wednesday to the Great American State Fair as a victory lap for the U.S. — and for himself.

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“Tonight, as we stand at the edge of our 250th year, I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump said in a speech on the National Mall. “As you know very well, a short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us anymore.”

The event, organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump that labels itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, marked the beginning of the 16-day exposition, envisioned as a modern-day world’s fair to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.