Donald Trump is coming to the opening day at the Iowa State Fair, CBS News reported on Friday, citing sources in the White House “familiar with the plan.” This year’s fair is scheduled to start on Thursday, Aug. 7 and run through Sunday, Aug. 17.
“Mr. Trump’s visit, marked on the White House calendar for Aug. 7, is seen as an effort to shore up farm country for Republicans and to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence,” according to CBS.
“Vice President JD Vance is also planning to attend the fair, but on a different day, according to one of the sources. Further details are expected to be locked in by late June.”
The White House declined to comment on the planned presidential visit, and the Iowa State Fair has not said anything about Trump returning to the fairground. But in May 2023, ex-president/candidate Trump released a video message with the title “Celebration Of 250 Years Of American Independence at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.”
Staring directly into the camera, Trump said he would “work with all 50 governors, Democrat and Republican alike, to create the Great American State Fair, a unique one-year exhibition featuring pavilions from all 50 states. It’ll be something.”
“The Great American State Fair will showcase the glory of every state in the union, promote pride in our history and put forth innovative visions for America’s future. My hope is that the amazing people of Iowa will work with my administration to open up the legendary Iowa State Fairgrounds to host the Great American State Fair and welcome millions and millions of visitors from around the world to the heartland of America for this special one-time festival.”
Apparently Trump’s writers were unable to resist ending with a Field of Dreams reference: “Together we will build it, and they will come.”
Two days after Trump victory in the 2024 presidential election, Gov. Reynolds enthusiastically quote-tweeted a right-wing journalist who reposted the May 2023 video. “We know the Iowa State Fair is the best fair in the country! In Iowa, we dream big, and we stand ready to host the Great American State Fair!” the governor tweeted.
That set off a cascade of tweets from other Iowa Republicans — including AG Brenna Bird, Rep. Ashley Hinson and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks — declaring their love for the idea of Iowa hosting the Great American State Fair.
Despite all that enthusiasm for the idea, it seems that no one actually took steps to make it happen. After Reynolds’ tweet, the Des Moines Register asked Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons about President Trump plan for a year-long festival. According to Parsons, “no formal request or inquiry has been made for use of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at this time.”
The Iowa State Fair site does have a page for “Iowa State Fair and Iowa America 250” [sic], inviting people to come to the 2026 Iowa State Fair to celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and “reflect on our founding principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness throughout 2026 with events and programs in their communities.”
At the bottom of the page is this disclaimer: “Please note that the 2026 Fair — ‘Iowa America 250’ — is not affiliated with a proposed Great American State Fair event, nor is the Iowa State Fair involved in planning an America 250 celebration. For more information about the efforts of the national America 250 planning efforts, please visit america250.org.”
The official America 250 site doesn’t mention the Great American State Fair. Currently, the only event listed on the site is the president’s June 14 military parade in Washington D.C.
In the 2023 video, Trump said the Great American State Fair in Iowa would be part of “an entire year of festivities across the nation, starting on Memorial Day 2025 and continuing through July 4, 2026.” None of the events Trump listed in the video are listed on the site.
The president did, however, mark Memorial Day this year in a familiar style. He posted a long, all-caps social media post, wishing a Happy Memorial Day to “THE SCUM THAT SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY.”
