An American flag is planted on the ground in front of a banner of U.S. President Donald Trump on the U.S. Department of Labor building ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations on July 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. The fireworks display will begin around 10:30 p.m. on July 4 as the city responds to a heatwave warning.
Joe Radle | Getty Images News | Getty Images
US President Donald Trump held a political rally Saturday on Washington’s fenced-in National Mall to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, capping weeks of celebrations that have been widely criticized as divisive.
Americans across the country plan to celebrate the patriotic holiday with fireworks and parades. Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago on July 4, 1776, will feature free cupcakes and a six-hour pop music concert, while New York will host sailing ships from around the world. In the nation’s capital, President Trump will put himself at the center of the celebration.
The president touted his evening appearance at the city’s iconic monument as “the most spectacular Trump rally ever,” complete with military flyovers and a super-sized fireworks display.
Washington’s annual Fourth of July celebrations, which usually draw hundreds of thousands of people, will have to contend with increased security, the possibility of thunderstorms and temperatures that could exceed 100 degrees Celsius (38 degrees Celsius) this year.
Previous U.S. presidents have shied away from the celebration, but President Trump is blurring the line between official commemorations and campaign-style politics.
The bipartisan group created in 2016 to handle the 250th anniversary has little participation in the Trump administration’s group Freedom 250. The Freedom 250 group is fencing off much of the 1.5-mile National Mall for the Great American State Fair, which will feature attractions such as a Ferris wheel along with exhibits from conservative groups and defense contractors.
Several Democratic-led states declined to send delegations, and many scheduled performers withdrew, citing partisanship concerns. President Trump’s June 24 kickoff rally drew several thousand people, but the event has at times struggled to draw crowds.
Other activities leveraging the Freedom 250 brand include a faith rally attended primarily by conservative Christians and multiple sporting events, including a mixed martial arts fight card on the White House grounds to commemorate President Trump’s 80th birthday and an IndyCar race in Washington scheduled for August.
The Freedom 250 organization also sponsored a “Freedom Track.” Critics say it depicts an overly religious depiction of American history and ignores issues such as slavery and racial injustice.
A majority of Americans, including three-quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans, think celebrations of the nation’s 250th anniversary have become too political, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
President Trump also sought to redo large areas of the nation’s capital ahead of the 250th anniversary celebrations, with mixed results. Many fountains and statues have been renovated, but the much-touted $15 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool and surveillance cameras has been plagued with problems, with soldiers now monitoring water stained with peeling paint and algae.
