State fairs usually bring to mind funnel cakes, Ferris wheels, and family fun. But President Trump's "Great American State Fair" got off to a bumpy start, with questions about crowd size and logistical problems overshadowing what was meant to be the kickoff of the administration's yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
The troubled debut came after weeks of mounting controversy over the broader Freedom 250 celebration, which has been plagued by artist withdrawals and criticism that a national anniversary had become a partisan event.
But the festival was just one of several developments that kept the administration in the spotlight over the weekend. From an escalating clash with elite universities to fresh criticism from former President Joe Biden, here's a closer look at those stories and the rest of the headlines you may have missed.
Attendance at Freedom 250 state fair seems sparse
President Trump's "Great American State Fair" is raising eyebrows after opening weekend photos appeared to show pretty sparse crowds, despite the president's claims that tens of thousands attended.
Trump claimed on Truth Social that the night was "packed to the brim," with at least 45,000 attendees. NBC News reported the audience was "nowhere near" that figure, while The Washington Post described opening-day crowds as "relatively sparse compared with past National Mall events." Images published by the Associated Press and Getty appeared to support those assessments, showing large stretches of the fairgrounds with relatively few visitors.
The 16-day fair is the centerpiece of the administration's yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary, featuring state exhibits, historical displays, live entertainment, and carnival attractions. It has also drawn attention for some of its more unusual features, including a cow named "Melania" after the first lady and a plywood replica of the proposed "Triumphal Arch" monument President Trump wants to build near Arlington National Cemetery.
But the celebration has generated almost as many headlines for its mishaps as its attractions. North Carolina's exhibit came under fire after an unapproved image of the Confederate flag was displayed before being removed at the governor's request. The opening weekend also featured a string of logistical headaches, with electrical problems temporarily halting the 110-foot Ferris wheel, melting ice cream, and forcing West Virginia's exhibit to close because of air-conditioning issues.
Even Vanilla Ice couldn't escape the chaos. One of the few performers who hadn't backed out amid a wave of artist cancellations, he ultimately saw his concert called off because of inclement weather—just hours after telling fans on Instagram it would be a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Yale reportedly seeks settlement with Trump administration
Following Harvard's months-long standoff with the Trump administration, Yale appears to be pursuing a different strategy with the government over its admissions practices.
According to The New York Times, Yale has hired McGuireWoods, a prominent national law firm that previously helped the University of Virginia negotiate a settlement with the Justice Department last year. While the status of any potential agreement remains unclear, three people familiar with the matter told the Times that the Ivy League university has already submitted a proposal to the government.
The talks come as the DOJ expands its investigation into Yale. Just last month, the department accused Yale's medical school of giving unlawful preferential treatment to Black and Hispanic applicants. According to the Times, the inquiry has since broadened to include undergraduate and law school admissions as well.
The investigation is part of the Trump administration's larger campaign to reshape elite higher education, using civil rights investigations, funding threats, and other legal tools to pressure universities to change their policies.
Rather than risk becoming the administration's next courtroom battle, Yale's reported efforts to reach an agreement suggest it hopes to avoid the kind of high-profile standoff that has engulfed Harvard, where multiple legal battles remain unresolved.
Pete Buttigieg reveals false CPS report
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his family became the target of a false Child Protective Services complaint that temporarily separated him from his 4-year-old twins.
In a Substack post on Friday, Buttigieg said a police officer and a Child Protective Services worker came to his home after an anonymous caller falsely claimed he had confessed to violent crimes during a conversation with a woman who allegedly met him at a conference in Alabama years earlier.
According to Buttigieg, the twins spent the night with their grandparents before being interviewed separately by CPS workers, as is standard practice during child welfare investigations. Officials ultimately determined the allegations were unfounded and said the case would not be referred for prosecution.
Buttigieg described the ordeal as a form of "swatting" — a tactic in which someone makes a false report to authorities to trigger an emergency response at a victim's home. In his case, he said, the response came from CPS rather than a SWAT team.
He called the experience "the ugliest thing that has happened to me since my career in service began,” adding that he plans to pursue civil or criminal charges if possible. "Do not mess with someone's kids," he wrote.
Biden brands Trump “a loser” in scathing attack
Former President Joe Biden delivered one of his sharpest public rebukes yet of President Trump over the weekend.
Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Maryland on Saturday, Biden mocked his successor as "a loser," arguing that Trump has prioritized self-promotional "vanity projects." As examples, Biden pointed to Trump's renovations around Washington, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has been mired in controversy — and algae.
Biden also accused Trump and his family of using his second term for personal enrichment, describing it as part of what he called "brazen, blatant corruption" within the administration.
"He has no shame, and frankly it's embarrassing for the country. But Trump? Trump could care less," Biden said.
The speech marked a noticeably sharper tone from Biden and came exactly two years after his widely criticized debate against Trump — a performance that ultimately led Biden to end his 2024 reelection campaign. With Democrats looking to regain momentum ahead of the midterm elections, Biden used the speech to sharpen a line of attack the party is likely to emphasize: portraying Trump as a president more focused on self-promotion and personal gain than governing.
