Published at 06.30
Patriotism, gold glitter and giant monuments. America’s 250th birthday on July 4 is approaching and with it a celebration like no other, claims Donald Trump.
– I have promised the United States the most spectacular birthday party, says the president.
The red-white-blue fireworks over Washington DC on National Day evening alone should be so magnificent that they end up in the Guinness Book of Records, writes The Washington Post. A whopping 860,000 pieces, nearly 50 times more than a “normal” year, are to be fired – a spectacle that has been criticized for being costly and environmentally damaging.
Donald Trump seems unconcerned about such problems. Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary of independence is something he has planned since his first term in the White House. Collectible coins and commemorative passports with Trump’s portrait are issued. And the anniversary ties in with several projects that the former real estate tycoon initiated in the capital – such as the construction of a sculpture park with American heroes, the renovation and blue painting of the pond in front of the Lincoln Monument, the construction of a giant ballroom on the grounds of the White House and, not least, the construction of a huge triumphal arch.
– We are the only big city – the only big place – without a triumphal arch, the president said in a video speech about the 250th anniversary last winter.
To organize the festivities, the White House project Freedom 250, which brings together authorities, companies and organizations, has been formed. Congress has its own cross-party organization called America 250. And many cities, states and associations organize their own celebrations.
Here are some examples of how the US celebrates:
1. State festivals and salutes on the National Mall
Every year, the US states usually hold a kind of market, a gimmick called “state fair” with agricultural exhibitions, fairgrounds, dance and music performances and various competitions – everything from hot dog eating to rodeo. This year, all 50 states have been invited to a giant market on the National Mall in Washington DC, which runs until July 10.
In recent weeks, however, artist defections from the state fair celebration have made big headlines. Stars such as Martina McBride, Young MC and The Commodores have canceled citing the event as being too political.
The National Mall also hosts the big Salute to America celebration on Saturday. Military ceremonies, music, speeches by the president and record fireworks await. However, Trump has broken with the tradition that National Day celebrations are non-political and announced that the “most spectacular Trump rally” will take place in the park on National Day evening.
2. Party at Mount Rushmore
The holiday weekend kicks off the night before National Day, July 3, with a big celebration at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota. In the national park – where huge busts of the four presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are carved into the rock – fireworks, drum ceremonies and plays about the lives of the four presidents are offered.
In the neighboring state of North Dakota, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a wooden adventure museum, opens on National Day. The nature lover and historian Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and the one who started to establish national parks at the beginning of the 20th century.
3. Float parade in New York
A peaceful armada of sailboats and warships from over 30 countries calls into New York Harbor on National Day. There is also an air show by the naval squadron Blue Angels, fireworks and a week-long festival-like celebration. Sailing vessels must also call at ports in New Jersey.
4. Lots of street parties
On the initiative of Congress, Americans across the country are being asked to organize street parties in their neighborhoods – and at the same time collect money for various aid organizations. Pulling assistance is provided from both New York and Los Angeles, where star-studded shows are held on Broadway and at the Memorial Coliseum, respectively, which can be streamed to the local parties. The Congress wants the national day to be largely about giving – both to the vulnerable and to the homeland.
5. Historic “freedom trucks”:
Six so-called “freedom trucks”, mobile exhibitions that tell the story of how the United States became independent, have been touring the country since last spring. In the trucks there is an AI version of the first president George Washington and the possibility to digitally sign the Declaration of Independence from 1776. The exhibition also contains portraits of 50 American heroes, among them the civil rights activist Rosa Parks, the writer Mark Twain and the singer Aretha Franklin.
6. A time capsule and bell ringing
An AI forecast, a state flag, an Olympic gold medal and poetry. And a whole lot of other things. On National Day, the time capsule that all the states contributed to and which is supposed to reflect life in the United States around the 250th anniversary is buried. The steel cylinder is buried in the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, near the building in which the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. The cylinder will not be removed until 2276 when the United States turns 500 years old.
In Philadelphia, there is also the USA’s famous Liberty Bell, which is believed to have proclaimed independence. It – and a number of other bells across the country – is part of a giant bell-ringing festival on the 4th of July.
7. Indy car racing, martial arts and prayer
In August, an Indycar race is held in the capital called the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC, at the initiative of the President. The idea is that the cars will pass well-known landmarks such as the Capitol and the White House at over 300 kilometers per hour.
– I love racing, Trump said in January when he signed a presidential decree on the competition.
President Trump has made it clear that the celebration will continue throughout 2026. In the spring, Freedom 250 organized a nine-hour prayer meeting on the National Mall and initiated an art competition for young people on the theme of American heroes. Add to that the martial arts gala held in a purpose-built arena on the White House grounds when the president turned 80 on June 14 was also attributed to the 250th anniversary celebration.
Background: This is how the USA became independent
The 13 British colonies in North America declared independence from Great Britain at a congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The United States of America was then formed.
The United States and its indigenous peoples had then been greeted by European colonizers for several hundred years. The American War of Independence, also called the Revolution, began in 1775 and was preceded by several conflicts.
The main author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson who later became the third president of the United States. The text is characterized by the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment about human rights, freedom and the equal value of everyone. But in the document, the colonists also declared that they no longer accept London as guardian. They were mainly dissatisfied with Britain’s handling of their trade and foreign policy – with years of rising taxes and trade restrictions without the colonies being represented in Parliament in London.
Great Britain did not recognize the independence of the American states until 1783, when the Revolutionary War ended. Barely six years later, in February 1789, George Washington was elected the first president of the new republic and the following month the US Constitution came into force.
Sources: NE, UI, SO room and more
