President Donald Trump launched 16 days of events marking the 250th anniversary of US independence with a speech on Washington’s National Mall that, according to multiple international media accounts, closely resembled his campaign rallies. Addressing supporters behind bulletproof glass, he declared “America is back,” claimed the country had been “dead” before his return, and touted military operations in Iran and Venezuela as historic victories. The event, which opened the Great American State Fair, featured flyovers by B-2 bombers and F-35 jets, but its musical programme was scaled back after several artists, including Martina McBride and the Commodores, withdrew, citing concerns that the commemoration had taken on a partisan character.

The White House presented the fair as a nonpartisan celebration of national renewal, with Trump promising a new “golden age” and highlighting domestic achievements such as border security and infrastructure repairs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaking from the stage, described Trump as the greatest president since George Washington. In contrast, Democratic Party officials, as reported by US media, accused the president of appropriating a national milestone for political purposes. Seven Democratic-governed states declined to participate in the fair, and the Democratic National Committee chair characterised the event as a taxpayer-funded spectacle centred on Trump. European media outlets noted the blurring of official and campaign functions, with some describing the proceedings as a “MAGA-style” rally.

The celebrations have also drawn attention to a troubled renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a $14 million project intended to tint the water “American Flag Blue.” Days after completion, the pool turned green from algae and the sealant began peeling. Trump blamed “vandals” and “thugs,” and the US Park Police released a video seeking a suspect. Government documents, however, indicated that the blue coating was already failing and algae-control devices were malfunctioning before the bloom. The Freedom 250 organisation, a public-private partnership created by Trump’s executive order, is coordinating the anniversary events, which include state pavilions, a Ferris wheel, and a planned July 4 fireworks display billed as the largest in history. Security measures, including fencing and checkpoints, have altered public access to the National Mall.

The semiquincentennial arrives at a politically sensitive moment, with Trump’s approval ratings under pressure from the cost of living and the Iran conflict, and midterm elections approaching in November. Analysts in Washington note that the National Mall has traditionally hosted nonpartisan commemorations, and the current approach marks a departure. The congressionally chartered America250 commission is also organising anniversary events, but Freedom 250 has assumed a leading role. The fair runs through 10 July, with further events including the Patriot Games athletic competition and a Grand Prix race planned for August. The investigation into the Reflecting Pool damage remains ongoing.