U.S. President Donald Trump is marking America’s 250th anniversary with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall, as celebrations draw criticism over growing political divisions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump is marking the United States’ 250th anniversary on Saturday with a campaign-style rally on a fenced-off National Mall in Washington, capping weeks of celebrations that have attracted criticism over their increasingly political tone.
Across the country, Americans are celebrating Independence Day with traditional fireworks, parades and public events commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
In Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted 250 years ago, celebrations include free cupcakes and a six-hour pop music concert, while New York is hosting an international parade of tall ships.
In the U.S. capital, however, Trump has placed himself at the centre of the national celebration.
The president has promoted his evening appearance near Washington’s iconic monuments as “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all,” with military flyovers and an expanded fireworks display planned as part of the event.
Washington’s annual Independence Day celebration traditionally attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, who this year are also expected to contend with heightened security, possible thunderstorms and temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
Unlike previous U.S. presidents, who generally avoided turning the national celebration into a political event, Trump has blurred the line between official commemoration and campaign-style politics.
A nonpartisan commission established in 2016 to coordinate the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations has reportedly been overshadowed by the Trump administration-backed Freedom 250 initiative.
The Freedom 250 group has fenced off much of the 1.5-mile National Mall for a “Great American State Fair,” featuring attractions such as a Ferris wheel alongside exhibitions by conservative organisations and defence contractors.
Several Democratic-led states declined to send official delegations to the event, while a number of scheduled performers reportedly withdrew, citing concerns over the event’s political nature.
Although attendance has fluctuated during the celebrations, thousands participated in Trump’s opening rally on June 24.
The Freedom 250 programme also includes a faith rally featuring predominantly conservative Christian speakers, sporting events and a mixed martial arts card planned on White House grounds to coincide with Trump’s 80th birthday, as well as an IndyCar race scheduled in Washington in August.
Among other anniversary activities is the Standing Horse Route 66 Powwow in Winslow, Arizona, organised by Erin Dickson.
The Freedom 250 organisation has also sponsored “Freedom Trucks,” which critics argue present an overly religious interpretation of American history while downplaying issues such as slavery and racial injustice.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a majority of Americans- including about three-quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans – believe the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations have become overly political. Ahead of the anniversary, Trump has also overseen efforts to renovate parts of Washington, D.C.
While several monuments, statues and fountains have been restored, a widely publicised $15 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has faced criticism, with peeling paint, algae-filled waters and increased security measures drawing public attention.
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