The United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July Fourth with celebrations taking place across the country, although this year's commemorations reflect differing approaches to the milestone.
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President Donald Trump has promoted the National Mall festivities in Washington as a large-scale patriotic event, describing the evening's fireworks display on social media as "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a 'TRIBUTE TO AMERICA.'" The event is expected to feature military bands and music selected by the president after several popular music acts reportedly withdrew from the programme.
Washington celebrations take a different direction
Trump has also described the fireworks display as the largest in history. Freedom 250, a Trump-aligned organisation overseeing the National Mall celebrations, has said it hopes to set a Guinness World Record, although it has not disclosed the overall cost of the event.
The group's month-long Great American State Fair on the National Mall has faced organisational challenges, uneven attendance and controversy, including the appearance of a Confederate flag. Not all 50 states are participating in the fair.
The anniversary comes at a time of political division in the United States. Debate over the principles set out in the Declaration of Independence has continued in recent weeks, including in a US Supreme Court case concerning birthright citizenship. The court's majority upheld constitutional protections for citizenship by birth in the United States.
Comparisons with the 1976 bicentennial
The country's previous major independence anniversary, the bicentennial in 1976, drew an estimated one million people to Washington for fireworks, according to historical accounts. Heavy traffic caused by the celebrations lasted into the following day.
President Gerald Ford did not centre the bicentennial around a single rally in the capital. Instead, he attended events across the northeastern United States, including a speech outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where another crowd estimated at one million people gathered.
Observers note that the United States in 1976 was emerging from the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, providing a different national backdrop to this year's celebrations.
Separate organisations lead anniversary events
Planning for the semiquincentennial has been divided between two organisations. America 250, established by Congress a decade ago on a bipartisan basis, continues to coordinate commemorative events nationwide, including community celebrations branded as "America's Block Party."
The Trump administration instead backed Freedom 250, a separate public-private organisation created after disagreements over staffing and planning. Freedom 250 has organised several high-profile events, including plans for a UFC event at the White House and an IndyCar race through Washington later this year.
States and broadcasters pursue their own commemorations
Many states are holding independent celebrations. In Virginia, commemorations are centred on Colonial Williamsburg, where historical interpreters portray figures from the American Revolution and events focus on the nation's founding.
PBS, which has traditionally televised the National Mall fireworks, is instead broadcasting its Independence Day programme from Colonial Williamsburg. The programme will include fireworks, a drone display and historical presentations.
Carly Fiorina, honorary chair of Virginia 250 and chair of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, said the state chose to develop its own programme rather than focus on Washington.
She said the celebrations were intended to emphasise that the country's history extends beyond any individual political leader. Fiorina pointed to George Washington's decision not to remain in office indefinitely and his choice not to seek a third presidential term as examples of that principle.
Trump visited the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota before the anniversary celebrations. Roosevelt declined to seek another term in 1908, although he later mounted an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1912.
Under the US Constitution, presidents are limited to two elected terms, meaning Trump cannot seek another term after leaving office in 2029.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 3 July 2026