MAGA gov touts 'unbelievable' turnout as Fox News live shot shows near-empty Trump fair

A Louisiana Republican sparked ridicule on social media Tuesday when he tried to brag about the number of attendees at President Donald Trump's Great American State Fair while pointing to a nearly empty National Mall on live TV.

Gov. Jeff Landry, a frequent Fox News guest, became the latest figure pulled into the mockery surrounding Trump's fair after he gushed about the turnout on the National Mall.

"It's unbelievable to see people out here enjoying the city," Landry said in a clip shared by journalist Aaron Rupar that quickly spread across social media.

Critics pounced, arguing the praise didn't match the thin crowds that had dogged the Freedom 250 event since its June 24 kickoff.

The Fox News clip itself showed barely any attendees. Trump claimed 45,000 people turned out for the opening, but media accounts put the real figure closer to 1,000. The Washington Post described the opening-day crowd as relatively sparse, smaller than some outdoor movie screenings.

Former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger jabbed on X, "They probably should move their stage if they want to lie so much."

"'Unbelievable' in the literal sense, indeed," Scott Greenfield wrote on X.

Brett Meiselas of the progressive news outlet MeidasTouch joked, "Unbelievable is right!"

Former Tea Party Rep. turned GOP critic Joe Walsh quipped, "It WOULD be unbelievable to see people out there. It really would be."

House Majority PAC, a Democratic group, replied, "Or lack thereof," while Illinois U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen joked, "Look at all the invisible people!"

The ribbing echoed days of similar treatment for Fox News, which covered the fair heavily. Correspondent Peter Doocy was mocked for saying "people are still coming out" in front of a near-empty field. Anchor Kevin Corke drew jeers for insisting the cameras didn't capture the real "wash of people" just off screen. Media analyst Matt Gertz observed that the network grew quiet once the sparse attendance became clear.

The fair, part of the nation's America 250 celebrations, has been plagued by problems, including performers who withdrew over the event's Trump ties, power outages that spoiled food, and a rain shutdown.