Trump Marks U.S. 250th Anniversary With Storm-Delayed Mall Speech
Trump mixed patriotic pageantry with campaign-style attacks on communism and voting rules after storms delayed the evening program.
- On Saturday, July 4, 2026, President Donald Trump delivered the Salute to America 250 speech on the National Mall after a nearly two-hour evacuation caused by severe thunderstorms in Washington, D.C.
- Freedom 250, a group established by the Trump administration, supplanted a bipartisan planning body to organize the event, fencing off much of the National Mall for the 'Great American State Fair' amid controversy.
- During his 45-minute address, Trump honored military veterans and the Artemis II crew while calling for passage of the SAVE America Act and denouncing what he described as a rising 'communist' threat.
- A massive fireworks display followed the president's remarks, concluding the day's events; critics expressed concerns about the administration's $15 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool, which suffered peeling paint and algae blooms.
- Polling by Reuters/Ipsos found a majority of Americans, including three-quarters of Democrats, view the 250th-anniversary events as overly political, reflecting debate over blending official commemorations with partisan messaging ahead of November midterms.
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Which Side Are You On? Swift, Trump, and America's 250th
Fireworks light up over the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan during the Macy's 4th of July fireworks show on July 4, 2026 in New York City. —Vincent Alban-Getty ImagesOn the weekend America turned 250, two spectacles competed for the nation’s soul and only one of them felt like a celebration. The first was the surprise wedding of Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce: a multicultural, festive, star-studded event. It was marked by smooth logi…
Allied Countries Light Up in Honor of America's 250th
As the United States celebrated 250 years of independence over the weekend, allied countries across the world similarly recognized the nation’s anniversary. France lit up the Eiffel Tower and displayed a “USA 50” in red, white, and blue. “The Eiffel Tower lit up in the colors of the United States, reflecting France’s heartfelt tribute to America’s 250th anniversary,” the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs wrote on X. “A powerful remi…
“One almighty God”? Trump mangles Declaration of Independence in bizarre July 4 speech
Donald Trump misquoted the Declaration of Independence while speaking at a July 4 celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, completely botching a line in a possible attempt to change its meaning. “And as our Declaration of Independence tells us, we are all made in the image of one almighty god,” Trump said during his speech in D.C. late on July 4. “And a communist will never say that. That’s for sure.” Related Between Trump and Christian nat…
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