250th Anniversary Celebration
President Trump Kicks Off America's 250th Anniversary Celebration on National Mall
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President Donald Trump kicked off America's 250th birthday celebration on June 24, 2026, with a rally on Washington's National Mall. The event opened the 16-day "Great American State Fair," which runs through July 10 AP News.
Trump called the kickoff the "Greatest Rally, EVER!" on Truth Social. The night featured stealth bomber flyovers and performances by Lee Greenwood and tenor Christopher Macchio. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say they feel "proud" about the 250th anniversary, according to an AP-NORC poll AP News.
What the Great American State Fair Actually Is
The fair runs daily on the National Mall from 10 AM to 9 PM on Sundays through Wednesdays and until 11 PM on Thursdays through Saturdays. Attractions include a 110-foot Ferris wheel and daily rodeos AP News. Cabinet members Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Education Secretary Linda McMahon appeared at the opening AP News.
The fair has themed days throughout its run. June 29 is "MAHA Monday" — short for Make America Healthy Again — led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. July 4 features a 40-minute fireworks show starting at 10:30 PM, with 850,000 shells fired — billed as the largest display in U.S. history, according to Freedom 250 organizers AP News.
Two Rival Commissions Fighting Over America's Birthday
The celebration is split between two competing groups. Congress created "America250" in 2016 as a nonpartisan commission to lead the anniversary. Then Trump signed an executive order in January 2026 creating "Freedom 250" — a White House-run partnership housed inside the National Park Foundation AP News.
The split has a real price tag. Freedom 250 received $68 million in Interior Department funds redirected through the National Park Foundation. Meanwhile, the original America250 commission faces a $100 million funding shortfall, according to reporting by NOTUS AP News. At least 10 states, mostly Democratic-leaning, have declined to send official delegations, citing political discomfort AP News.
Artist Cancellations and a Concert Series in Trouble
The concert lineup hit a rough patch before the fair even opened. Artists including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, and The Commodores withdrew, all citing concerns about "political overtones" of the event AP News. Rapper Vanilla Ice remained committed to performing.
Historian Eddie Glaude Jr. and author Jelani Cobb accused the administration of "whitewashing" history by focusing on "greatness" while ignoring what Cobb called America's historical "scars" AP News. The America250 commission is hosting a rival July 4 concert in Los Angeles featuring Chris Stapleton and the Smashing Pumpkins AP News.
Big Price Tags and a Midterm Political Backdrop
The spending around the anniversary is striking. A UFC fight planned for White House grounds carries a projected cost of $60 million, according to TIME AP News. Trump himself chairs the Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday, with Vice President JD Vance serving as vice chair.
Critics and many news outlets have called the Mall events "campaign-style rallies" given their closeness to the November 2026 midterm elections. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has framed the 250th celebrations as part of an "economic statecraft" strategy to highlight the economy before voters go to the polls AP News. A Gallup poll found 77% of Americans believe the founders would be "disappointed" with the country today.
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