Fri, 5 Jun 2026 16:41:08 America’s 250th birthday celebration increasingly centres on Trump July 4, 2026 -- Historians and political leaders warn President Donald Trump is using the U.S. semiquincentennial to turn national celebrations into a showcase for himself. While Congress created the America250 commission a decade ago to oversee official events, a Trump-backed group called Freedom 250 is now organising its own privately funded celebrations. One of the biggest events will be the American State Fair, scheduled from June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The fair will feature all 50 states and six U.S. territories, and Trump is expected to open the event. Several planned concerts were cancelled after artists withdrew because of the fair's links to Freedom 250. Trump has said he will instead hold a "Rally to end all Rallies," describing himself as "the number one attraction anywhere in the world". Another major event is a UFC fight card scheduled for June 14, Trump's 80th birthday, in a 4,500-seat arena built on the White House South Lawn. Trump has suggested the structure could remain in place permanently. On July 4, a Freedom 250 fireworks display is set to replace Washington's traditional show. Organisers say it will feature 860,000 fireworks, compared with about 10,000 in a typical year. Trump has called it the world's largest fireworks display. Trump's image is also set to appear on a commemorative gold coin marking the 250th anniversary, on commemorative passports and, if approved, on a special $250 banknote. U.S.: America’s 250th birthday centres on Trump GN48099 Graphic shows key events planned to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. (107mm wide by 178mm deep) View: http://www.graphicnews.com/en/pages/48099/U.S._America’s_250th_birthday_centres_on_Trump -------------------------------------------- Info: Alerts for editors http://www.graphicnews.com/serviceinfo Info: FTP for in-house content management systems http://www.graphicnews.com/ftp