White House deletes after Trump’s sparse rally reaction

President Donald Trump reacted angrily to aerial photographs showing a sparse crowd at his rally launching the Great American State Fair last week, prompting White House officials to delete the images from social media, according to reports. The event, part of celebrations leading to the nation's 250th birthday on July 4, has struggled with low attendance since its opening.

Trump delivered a 30-minute speech to officially kick off the fair after several planned musical performers withdrew, leaving the president to step in as the main attraction. Despite his high-profile appearance, turnout was underwhelming. The president later saw an aerial photo revealing large sections of empty fields beyond the audience gathered near the stage, which reportedly enraged him. Multiple White House officials who had posted the photo subsequently deleted their posts.

In response, Trump took to social media to claim the event had been "packed to the brim," contradicting the photographic evidence. An insider acknowledged a planning failure, stating the approach had been an "if you build it, they will come mentality that failed."

The incident has raised concerns among White House staff as Trump...