OC Fair Displays Photo Featuring Young Child Holding ‘Happy Last Birthday’ Sign Aimed at Trump

A photograph currently on display in the Orange County Fair’s competitive photography exhibit has ignited sharp criticism after videos of the framed work circulated widely online.

The entry, titled “The Young Fight” by photographer Alexander Nguyen (Entry #1443), shows a family at a “No Kings” protest in Torrance. Prominent in the image are handmade signs reading “Happy Last Birthday” and “You’re not King So Stop Playing one #No Kings,” alongside a caricature resembling President Donald Trump and a pride flag. The work is labeled as street photography shot on 35mm film and is listed for sale at $300.

Notably, the disturbing “Happy Last Birthday” sign is held by a young child. Critics contend this imagery indicates that children are being led to believe it is acceptable to use violent political rhetoric targeting a sitting president and elected officials.

The photograph is displayed in the Fair’s public art and photography galleries, which are open to families and children attending the annual event at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.

Attention everyone thinking of going to the Orange County Fair in California

Inside the art room they have put up a framed picture depicting Donald Trump being murdered soon

It says it’s Trump’s “Last Birthday” and declares “No Kings.” It also has a LGBTQ+ Flag

Don’t support a… pic.twitter.com/sPT0hpEy3w

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) August 3, 2026

On Monday evening, Orange County Republican Party Chairman Will O’Neill sent a formal letter to the Fair Board Chairwoman objecting to the display. In the letter and accompanying social media posts, O’Neill described the photograph as “assassination artwork” and stated that public institutions “should exercise extraordinary caution before displaying imagery that can reasonably be interpreted as normalizing or trivializing rhetoric surrounding the death or elimination of political figures.

”The OCGOP further revealed that this is the first year in more than a decade the party was denied booth space at the Fair. According to the party, the denial was made on the stated grounds that the Fair wished to avoid political activity. 

“Displaying that photo is anything but politically neutral,” the OCGOP wrote. “It contains unmistakable contemporary political messaging directed at one side of our nation’s political debate. The photo communicates a partisan viewpoint without any balance.” The OCGOP further demands that the photo be removed from the exhibit.

Videos circulated widely today of a photograph displayed by the Orange County Fair depicting people holding a sign saying "Happy Last Birthday" next to a caricature of President Donald Trump.

OC GOP Chairman Will O'Neill sent the Orange County Fair Board Chairwoman this letter… pic.twitter.com/8HrZW8fYU3

— OC Republicans (@OCGOP) August 4, 2026

The Fair is operated by the 32nd District Agricultural Association, a state entity. Board members include elected officials, among them Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee Michelle Murphy, who endorsed Rep. Dave Min in 2024. 

The California Globe has reached out to OC Fair Communications Director Terry Moore, the Communications Department, and OCGOP Chairman Will O’Neill for comment. This story will be updated if responses are received.