The National Mall is buzzing with red, white, and blue as President Donald Trump prepares to take the stage for what he’s calling the “Greatest Rally, Ever!”—a MAGA-fueled spectacle that has transformed a 16-day concert series into a single, politically charged event on June 24. Originally planned as the Freedom 250 concerts leading up to the July 4th 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the lineup collapsed after musicians dropped out, citing concerns over the event’s political overtones. Trump, never one to shy from the spotlight, promised a show free of “singers with no talent” and full of “Fantastic Music!!! MAGA!!! FUN!!!”—plus a speech from the man himself.
As the Great American State Fair kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, the scene is a mix of fervent supporters and simmering tensions. Pastor Jentezen Franklin delivered the invocation, despite a rocky history with Trump over racial remarks. Franklin had previously condemned Trump’s social media post depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, and blasted the president’s comments about immigrants from Haiti and African nations. Yet here he stood, blessing the event.
Among the crowd, Allie Stevenson, a 37-year-old bartender from Florida, said she saved her tips for weeks to attend. “I love that he’ll do whatever it takes, no matter what anybody thinks, to make this country great,” she said, wearing a Trump National Doral polo shirt. Her devotion reflects the unflinching loyalty Trump inspires, even as controversy swirls.
The night’s lineup includes Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, performing the national anthem. Critics questioned the ethics of a government official’s partner performing at a taxpayer-funded event, but Wilkins fired back on social media, insisting she’s not being paid and that her invitation stems from her years in country music. As of June 24, she had just 5,620 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Security is tight, with the FBI, Secret Service, and multiple agencies on high alert following an alleged plot to attack a UFC event at the White House earlier this month. Visitors face magnetometers and bag checks, a necessary nuisance to prevent threats, according to former FBI agent Scott Duffey. With hundreds of thousands expected over the next 16 days, the stakes are high.
But not everything is going smoothly. A brief power outage in the food pavilion led to a pretzel shortage, though workers assured attendees the issue would be resolved in 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Leonard Cohen Estate condemned the expected use of “Hallelujah” at the rally, posting on Instagram that the performance is unauthorized and unsupported. In a nod to Trump’s signature sign-off, the estate added, “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The fair, running from June 25 to July 10, will feature pavilions from all 56 states and territories, though some have refused to allocate resources. Exhibits from YouTube, Harley-Davidson, and NASA will dot the Mall, alongside a Ferris wheel and themed districts. But the shadow of politics looms large, with musicians like Martina McBride and Bret Michaels pulling out, claiming they were misled about the event’s non-partisan nature.
As Trump gears up to speak around 8:30 p.m. ET, the crowd swells under balmy 80-degree skies. For supporters like Joe Cox, a 67-year-old defense contractor, it’s about celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday. “We’re here to recognize the birth of the country,” he said. But for critics, it’s a stark reminder of how deeply divided America remains, even on its milestone birthday.
