As Americans across the country celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with fireworks and parades, President Donald Trump is placing himself front and center at the festivities in Washington with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall.
Trump has described his evening appearance among the capital’s famous monuments as “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all,” promising military aircraft flyovers and an extra-large fireworks display to mark the occasion.
Cities around the country are hosting their own celebrations. Philadelphia — where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago on July 4, 1776 — is offering free cupcakes and a six-hour pop music concert. New York is welcoming tall ships from nations around the globe.
In Washington, the National Mall’s annual July 4 gathering typically attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. This year, attendees must navigate heightened security measures, the potential for thunderstorms, and temperatures that could climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
While past presidents have traditionally stayed out of the July 4 spotlight, Trump has blended official national commemoration with the feel of a political campaign event. A nonpartisan organization created in 2016 specifically to oversee the 250th anniversary has largely been pushed aside by the Trump administration’s Freedom 250 group.
That group has fenced off much of the 1.5-mile National Mall for what it calls a “Great American State Fair,” which includes attractions like a Ferris wheel alongside exhibits from conservative organizations and defense contractors. Several states led by Democratic governors declined to send delegations, and a number of performers who had been booked for the events withdrew, citing worries about the partisan direction of the celebration.
The events have sometimes struggled to draw large crowds, though thousands did attend Trump’s kickoff rally on June 24.
Other Freedom 250-branded activities include a faith rally featuring predominantly conservative Christian speakers, a mixed martial arts fight card held on the White House grounds tied to Trump’s 80th birthday, and an IndyCar race scheduled for Washington in August.
The Freedom 250 organization also sponsored what it called “Freedom Trucks,” which critics argue present an overly religious portrayal of American history while glossing over topics such as slavery and racial injustice.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a majority of Americans think the 250th anniversary events have become too political — a view shared by three-quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans.
Trump also pushed for a broad makeover of Washington ahead of the anniversary, with uneven outcomes. While many fountains and statues have been restored, a heavily promoted $15 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool has run into trouble, with security cameras and soldiers now standing guard over peeling paint and algae-covered water.
