Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., has criticized North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein's decision to forgo sponsoring a state booth at the Great American State Fair, an event marking America's 250th birthday. Edwards, a Republican representing western North Carolina, suggested that the Democratic governor prioritized partisanship over patriotism.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources stated that limited state resources were being directed toward America 250 events within North Carolina, including one in Raleigh on July 4. However, Edwards dismissed this explanation, telling Fox News Digital, "I don't buy that at all. I think it's a political statement."
The Great American State Fair, hosted by the Trump-aligned organization Freedom 250, is currently taking place on the National Mall and features daily themes celebrating American history and culture. Several other states, including Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, also opted out of participating in the fair.
Democratic governors of Pennsylvania and Oregon have cited concerns about the event being overly partisan as reasons for their states' non-participation.
Despite the state government's absence, private sponsors contributed to establishing a North Carolina booth at the fair. This booth later drew controversy due to the inclusion of Confederate flags, which fair organizers subsequently removed. Gov. Stein issued a statement, obtained by NBC News, criticizing the flag display and emphasizing that "America 250 is about unity and bringing our nation together."
North Carolina was part of the Confederacy during the Civil War, but the Confederate flag has not been incorporated into the design of the state flag.
