After 'Donald Trump' the buffalo, 'Melania' the cow makes an appearance at Great American State Fair
A little over a month after a rare Bangladeshi buffalo gained virality for its alleged semblance to the U.S. President, the first day of the Great American State Fair saw a calf that paid homage to the First Lady. Named Melania because her appearance reminded the owner of President Donald Trump's wife, the cow made its first major public appearance on the first day of the fair.
"We were trying to come up with patriotic names for the 250th year of America, and we thought Melania would be a good idea because it's the First Lady's name and the hair colors kind of match. And it just fit," Future Farmers of America (FFA) student Piper Stolipher told the Washington Post in a video interview. The calf was featured at the fair's Agriculture Department pavilion on the National Mall last week, joining an array of sheep, goats, and other livestock.
Melania, a calf from West Virginia, was presented at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall along with goats, sheep and other cows at the Agriculture Department pavilion. https://t.co/zzvagsdZe4 pic.twitter.com/vcQUcUjCAj
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 30, 2026
President Donald Trump has touted the Great American State Fair, celebrating America's 250th birthday, as one of the biggest and most popular spectacles of the year, praising officials for a "fantastic job" and praising himself for achieving what he believes former presidents could never achieve. In a post on Truth Social, the President had written, "Do you think people appreciate what a fantastic job we did in building and operating the Great American State Fair at the National Mall, packed with happy people, and everybody loving it? Ask yourself this simple question, "DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?" THE ANSWER IS NO!"
However, despite being touted as the nation's 250th birthday celebration, the event faced several hurdles in the days leading up to it. One of the biggest setbacks was when almost every musical artist backed out of performing, citing the State Fair as a political event rather than a celebration for Americans. At the time, Trump had claimed that he would be the sole star attraction. Vanilla Ice, who was the only one who did not back out, abruptly cancelled his set, citing weather concerns.
But it is not just artists who backed out. The State Fair was supposed to showcase the history and culture of all 50 states. However, according to CNN, officials from Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, North Carolina, and Connecticut said they declined the Trump administration's invitation. It turns out that certain companies have also backed out while the State Fair was on, including North Carolina's Mt. Olive Pickles.
