President Trump's carefully constructed vision for transforming the nation's capital is literally falling apart.
The Great American State Fair, meant to showcase his grandiose architectural ambitions, has spiraled into a three-day disaster of musical acts boycotting, equipment failures, tiny crowds and now a deteriorating replica arch buckling under less-than-ideal weather conditions.
According to New York Times reporting, the centerpiece of Trump's fair—a scaled-down version of his proposed 250-foot "Triumphal Arch"—is already showing signs of structural failure. The vinyl covering, stapled over a wood frame and emblazoned with "One Nation Under God," had begun "buckling" under the combined assault of high temperatures, humidity, and rain.
The arch represents Trump's broader vision for the nation's capital: a planned White House ballroom, renovated golf courses, and the repainting and sealing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool – all of which have come under scrutiny and criticism.
Three days into a 16-day event, Trump's showcase for his ambitions is becoming another debacle, with sparse attendance under a sweltering sun, power failures disabling the Ferris wheel for hours, and a cancelled concert by headliner Vanilla Ice with days still to run.
Trump's opening performance set the tone. As the Times noted, "Trump gave a short campaign-style welcome speech on Wednesday before a thin crowd, asserting that in his second term he had brought back a country that was 'dead' under his predecessor."