Trump commandeers US 250th birthday for political rally as heatwave cancels parade
The United States marks its 250th anniversary on July 4, but President Donald Trump has turned the milestone into a political rally, with a massive fireworks display and a long speech on the National Mall, while a heatwave forced the cancellation of the traditional parade.
A celebration overshadowed by politics
The United States marks its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, but the milestone has been largely commandeered by President Donald Trump. The bipartisan America 250 committee, created by Congress in 2016 to organize festivities, was sidelined after Trump signed an executive order creating his own Freedom 250 group. The $150 million allocated by lawmakers was cut into three parts, with the new committee taking control. What was intended as a unifying national celebration has become, in the words of multiple French-language reports, a "personality cult" and a political rally. Trump has presented the day not as a national holiday but as a campaign event.
It's going to be about 107°F and I'm going to give a really long speech - just to show that I can do anything.
Heatwave cancels parade, but not Trump's plans
A suffocating heatwave across the eastern United States forced the cancellation of the traditional July 4 parade in Washington D.C. Temperatures are expected to reach 38°C, with humidity pushing the heat index to near 43°C. Despite the extreme conditions, Trump's evening event on the National Mall will proceed as planned. The president has promised military flyovers, patriotic music, and what he touts as the world's largest fireworks display: 850,000 rockets over 40 minutes. The rally is scheduled to begin at 01:45 GMT on Sunday (9:45 p.m. local time).
- Trump speaks at Mount Rushmore, warns of 'new offensive' against American identity
- Traditional Independence Day parade in Washington D.C. canceled due to extreme heat
- Trump holds political rally on National Mall, followed by 40-minute fireworks display
Mount Rushmore speech warns of threats
On the eve of the anniversary, Trump spoke at the foot of Mount Rushmore, where he praised the four presidents carved into the granite, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, and warned of a "new offensive" against American identity. He described a "resurgence of the communist threat on our soil," a message aimed at rallying his base ahead of the November midterm elections. The speech was described as ultra-patriotic, exalting the "miracle" of America.
American identity is under a new offensive from radicals and extremists.
Public reaction: apathy and division
The takeover has left many Americans indifferent or divided. Patrick Thompson, a teacher from Alexandria, Virginia, said he would celebrate with a family barbecue but would not bring his teenage children to the official events. "Why does it have to bear Trump's imprint?" he asked. Loselie Weber, who traveled from Texas, expressed gratitude for the freedoms she has experienced since arriving in the U.S. at age seven. Melissa Pate, a psychotherapist from Atlanta, noted that "to say it's been 250 years and people in this country are not living in true freedom is a little disappointing," citing the current political climate. The contrast with the 1976 bicentennial, when President Gerald Ford stepped back to let the country celebrate unity, is stark. This year, supporters of the president are not numerous enough to mask the general indifference.
Midterm elections loom
The anniversary comes as Republicans worry that Trump's unpopularity could cost them control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. The president's rhetoric at Mount Rushmore and his transformation of the national holiday into a campaign-style event are seen as efforts to energize his supporters. The Freedom 250 committee, which answers directly to Trump, has turned the day into a political operation, further deepening the country's divisions.
