Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., is blasting North Carolina’s state government’s decision to boycott the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., accusing the state’s Democratic governor of injecting politics into America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Edwards said Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein chose partisanship over patriotism by declining to sponsor a booth representing the Tar Heel State, rejecting the state’s explanation that budget constraints drove the decision.
“I think it’s unbelievably unfortunate that our governor chose to not send representation from North Carolina to help celebrate such a momentous occasion and show patriotism,” Edwards, who represents a large swath of western North Carolina, told Fox News Digital in an interview.
“But I know a lot of North Carolinians back at home. I know the folks in my district are patriots, and they certainly will be celebrating.”
DAVID MARCUS: LIBERAL ELITES SEETHE OVER AMERICA’S STATE FAIR
The state government cited fiscal issues for declining to participate in the 16-day fair, which is underway on the National Mall until July 10. Every state was given exhibition space, and each day features a different theme celebrating American history and culture.
“Our limited resources are focused on America 250 events across North Carolina, including one at the State Capitol in Raleigh on July 4,” a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources told The New York Times.
“I don’t buy that at all,” Edwards said when asked about the alleged budget concerns. “I think it’s a political statement.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Stein’s office for comment.
FIRST ON FOX: BEHIND THE SCENES OF ARLINGTON’S MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE FOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY
Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington are among the other blue states that opted out of the Great American State Fair hosted by the Trump-aligned organization, Freedom 250.
Democratic governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Tina Kotek of Oregon are among the Democratic governors who opted out over concerns the event would be overly partisan.
The fair is one of several high-profile events marking the 250th milestone in the nation’s Capitol.
Still, several private sponsors stepped in to fund the North Carolina booth.
Amid Stein’s snub, the state’s booth drew controversy after the inclusion of several Confederate flags as part of the display. The symbols have since been removed from the booth by fair organizers.
Stein criticized the display in a written statement obtained by NBC News.
“This flag does not represent the North Carolina that we love,” the governor said. “America 250 is about unity and bringing our nation together. We are pleased the flag that did the opposite has now been taken down.”
North Carolina joined the Confederacy during the Civil War, but the Confederate flag was never incorporated into the southern state flag’s design.
North Carolina governor faces criticism for skipping Trump-backed America 250 event 2026 IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2025 2026-07-04 14:46:05 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
