Problems mount for Trump-backed Freedom 250 event after stage structure collapses during rehearsal

Controversies continued to haunt the Great American State Fair, an exposition backed by Freedom 250, after a piece of the main stage collapsed near dancers rehearsing on it, narrowly missing them, as seen in a video circulating on social media. The footage, shared by journalist Aaron Parnas, shows the dancers continuing their routine, apparently unaware of the falling panel. No official statement has been issued, but no injuries have been reported so far.

The incident cast a long shadow over the 16-day event, which has been beset with multiple issues, from musicians backing out to wafer-thin crowds. The stage was reportedly newly erected on the White House lawn for the celebration, which will commemorate 250 years since America's founding. An AI-generated image of the stage can be viewed on the official Freedom 250 site for the "Salute to America" event on July 4, Entertainment Weekly reported.

President Donald Trump has touted the event as the "most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen," but critics have argued that the President is co-opting a national anniversary to promote himself. This is perhaps why at least ten states with predominantly Democratic governments have refused to participate in the fair, including Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Pennsylvania, according to Newsweek.

The states were not the first to ditch the controversial event. More than six musical artists slated to perform at the fair dropped out after a backlash, with some calling the fair "a political event." This includes Bret Michaels of Poison, country icon Martina McBride, and Morris Day of the Time, among others. Vanilla Ice, who was the only artist who had not backed out, abruptly canceled his set, citing weather concerns.

Many Americans also appeared to steer clear of the exposition—the brainchild of Freedom 250, a Trump administration-backed nonprofit leading the semiquincentennial celebrations. Several news reports showed vast, empty green spaces despite Trump's claim that 45,000 people were in attendance. In fact, the low turnout during the president's opening-day speech infuriated him, according to CNN.

The 80-year-old, meanwhile, remained defiant, suggesting that the people love the event. "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? Ask yourself this simple question, “DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?” THE ANSWER IS NO!" he wrote on Truth Social.