{"id":194,"date":"2026-06-25T20:43:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T20:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194"},"modified":"2026-06-25T20:43:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T20:43:51","slug":"at-americas-250th-trump-makes-himself-the-main-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194","title":{"rendered":"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The United States turns 250 next week, a milestone Congress voted to mark as a nonpartisan celebration. President Donald Trump has instead made it his own.<\/p>\n

Read more Deadline: Legal Blog<\/a><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, days before the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Trump headlined a kickoff rally for the \u201cGreat American State Fair,\u201d staged as part of the 250th festivities, after several artists originally slated to perform at the fair\u2019s opening ceremony backed out, saying they felt misled about the event\u2019s political nature.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are, in effect, two 250ths. \u201cAmerica 250,\u201d the congressionally authorized commission created a decade ago to celebrate the nation\u2019s founding, was meant to plan a single, nonpartisan national commemoration. The White House has opted to run its own: The state fair \u2014 like many of the other major birthday events in Washington, D.C. \u2014 is run by Freedom 250, a group Trump created by executive order in January 2025, and over which he exerts more control.<\/p>\n

The fair reflected that influence. Lee Greenwood sang \u201cGod Bless the U.S.A.,\u201d Trump\u2019s standard campaign rally walkout song; the U.S. Marine Band played \u201cY.M.C.A.,\u201d Trump\u2019s standard rally closer. At the podium, Trump spent much of his time touting his administration\u2019s policy record \u2014 including mass deportations, aggressive border enforcement, a federal policy recognizing only two genders and the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the government. Only at the beginning and end of his remarks did the president acknowledge America\u2019s 250th birthday, and even then, only briefly \u2014 ticking through a list of the Founding Fathers and previewing upcoming Freedom 250 activities.<\/p>\n

A Freedom 250 spokesperson, Rachel Reisner, rejected the idea that Trump has made the 250th festivities political or about himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not been a moment in history where a president has not been at a mass historic moment like this,\u201d Reisner told MS NOW during the fair\u2019s kickoff celebration. \u201cIf you look back to other major milestones, like the centennial, of course, the president was there, and there\u2019s no difference today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s only political if you want to make it political,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In a statement to MS NOW, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle emphasized Trump\u2019s remarks Wednesday night \u201cspotlighted our Nation\u2019s storied history and enduring greatness while reminding us that our best days are still to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the Great American State Fair and Salute to America Celebration to the Patriot Games, Rededicate 250, and many other inspiring events, 2026 will deliver a powerful resurgence of patriotism and national pride under President Trump\u2019s leadership,\u201d Ingle continued.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the coming drumbeat of \u201cFreedom 250\u201d celebrations keeps Trump front and center.<\/p>\n

On July 3, he will headline an event at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, delivering a keynote speech against the backdrop of the iconic granite faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. (Trump has toyed with the idea of having his own face added to the monument, and recently posted an image on Truth Social of how it might look.) He is expected to use the occasion to debut a new luxury jet gifted to him by Qatar that will serve as Air Force One.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then on July 4, Trump is scheduled to hold a Freedom 250 rally at the Washington Monument, where he will deliver an address. He has billed the event as both a \u201ctribute to America\u201d and a \u201cTrump rally.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

While past presidents have historically delivered remarks commemorating the country\u2019s founding, this year\u2019s July 4 event positions Trump as the star of the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When Presidents Ulysses Grant and Gerald Ford spoke at America\u2019s respective centennial and bicentennial celebrations in 1876 and 1976, the two former presidents\u2019 speeches focused on honoring the country\u2019s progress since its founding. Both were absent of partisan fanfare.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Trump has made it clear he is looking for a patriotic moment that honors all of America,\u201d Reisner said, emphasizing that Freedom 250 festivities are celebrating \u201ctruly every ounce of America you see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Trump administration disturbingly cuts funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs<\/a><\/p>\n

Still, visitors to the nation\u2019s capital can expect to see Trump\u2019s imprint everywhere. A scaled-down replica of the president\u2019s proposed 250-foot \u201ctriumphal arch\u201d stands across from the ferris wheel not far from the stage where Trump spoke. Nearby, a tent promotes \u201cTrump Accounts.\u201d Large banners with Trump\u2019s face are being displayed on several federal buildings. A photo of Trump that says \u201cMake America Safe Again\u201d hangs in front of the Department of Justice. At the Department of Labor, his face appears on a banner alongside a separate one of Teddy Roosevelt. At the Department of the Interior, Trump\u2019s and George Washington\u2019s faces are displayed separately on two Freedom 250 banners, each spanning three floors of the building.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s attempt at painting the Reflecting Pool an \u201cAmerican flag blue\u201d color has been marred by significant algae growth and peeling paint. His name adorns the U.S. Institute of Peace. Where it once appeared on the Kennedy Center, only scaffolding remains, enveloped by a tarp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How all of that is landing is a separate question.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday night, thousands of Americans \u2014 including Trump supporters who drove to D.C. for hours just to see him and some spectators who say they came by out of \u201cmorbid curiosity,\u201d as one put it to MS NOW \u2014 flocked to the National Mall for the fair\u2019s kickoff.<\/p>\n

Kelle George, a D.C. resident and Trump supporter, had been looking forward to the fair for months, even before the president announced himself as the headliner. She said that watching Trump speak was a \u201cbonus\u201d for her.<\/p>\n

To the artists who backed out of performing at the event over concerns about its political affiliation, George said, \u201cI say get out of America, you know? If you cannot support the flag that you\u2019re living under, then go to another country and live under the flag of the ideologies and the thought process that you support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t matter who\u2019s in office,\u201d she continued. \u201cAmerica\u2019s turning 250 years old regardless of who\u2019s sitting in the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Jacob Wehmeyer, another Washington resident and Trump supporter, the political nature of the Freedom 250 event and the president\u2019s involvement is part of the draw.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrump rallies, I think, have a partisan air to it, and he probably can\u2019t help himself,\u201d Wehmeyer told MS NOW at the fair. \u201cBut that\u2019s sort of the appeal. That\u2019s what makes him fun, because he\u2019s just candid and fun like that. \u2026 I don\u2019t have an issue with it. I\u2019m just happy they\u2019re actually doing something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris and Lonnie from Stafford, Virginia, who described themselves as neither Republican nor Democrat and asked not to be identified by their last name, said they came to see the flyovers and remained open-minded about what the president had to say.<\/p>\n

But the couple said they found it \u201cdiscouraging\u201d the way Trump has placed himself at the center of many of the 250th celebrations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn all of our history, every president that we\u2019ve ever had hasn\u2019t gone to the length that he has gone to just make it about him,\u201d Lonnie said. \u201cSo, that\u2019s a little discouraging. But again, he is our president, so I will respect him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris, who said he served in leadership positions in the military and federal government, added, \u201cOne of the largest pieces of being a leader is humility \u2014 putting others before yourself. It\u2019s kind of the opposite of what\u2019s going on right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Deadline: Legal Blog<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A congressionally chartered commission was supposed to plan a nonpartisan commemoration. Instead, the president built a parallel celebration \u2014 and put himself at its center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nAt America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event - Long Distance Movers USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event - Long Distance Movers USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A congressionally chartered commission was supposed to plan a nonpartisan commemoration. Instead, the president built a parallel celebration \u2014 and put himself at its center.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Long Distance Movers USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-25T20:43:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0206dfa2bde56a4792f75b5b97027e43\"},\"headline\":\"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-25T20:43:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194\"},\"wordCount\":1282,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"US\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194\",\"name\":\"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event - Long Distance Movers USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-25T20:43:51+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0206dfa2bde56a4792f75b5b97027e43\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?p=194#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Long Distance Movers USA\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0206dfa2bde56a4792f75b5b97027e43\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/longdistancemoversusas.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event - Long Distance Movers USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event - Long Distance Movers USA","og_description":"A congressionally chartered commission was supposed to plan a nonpartisan commemoration. Instead, the president built a parallel celebration \u2014 and put himself at its center.","og_url":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194","og_site_name":"Long Distance Movers USA","article_published_time":"2026-06-25T20:43:51+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0206dfa2bde56a4792f75b5b97027e43"},"headline":"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event","datePublished":"2026-06-25T20:43:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194"},"wordCount":1282,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg","articleSection":["US"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194","url":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194","name":"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event - Long Distance Movers USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg","datePublished":"2026-06-25T20:43:51+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0206dfa2bde56a4792f75b5b97027e43"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9076e1cfa76a6f6d8ac1562ecb76678e.jpg","width":1200,"height":630},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?p=194#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"At America\u2019s 250th, Trump makes himself the main event"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/","name":"Long Distance Movers USA","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0206dfa2bde56a4792f75b5b97027e43","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com"],"url":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/longdistancemoversusas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}