America is ready to celebrate its 250th birthday. But are Americans?
We who call the United States home are preparing to celebrate the country's star-spangled semiquincentennial next year ‒ not just with flags and fireworks, but also some serious conversations about history and what it means to be an American.
Among the celebrations: a massive fireworks display at Mount Rushmore on July 3, 2026, and what organizers hope is the single-largest flag-waving celebration in history. And President Donald Trump on July 3 announced he's also planning to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House as part of the festivities.
Trump formally kicked off the yearlong celebration on July 3 with a boisterous rally in at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Trump campaigned on an "America first" platform, and he's long invoked symbols of patriotism during his rallies, from having Lee Greenwood sing his hit "God Bless the USA," to literally embracing Old Glory.
"This Fourth of July our magnificent destiny is closer than ever before. We are one people, one family and one united American nation," he said to cheers. "We will fight, fight, fight, we will win, win, win, because we are Americans and our hearts bleed red, white, and blue."
Trump also reaffirmed his plans to hold a "Great American State Fair" with exhibits from all 50 states that will begin in Iowa, along with other national celebrations.
And while there will be parties and parades aplenty for the nation's semiquincentennial, some scholars are also urging Americans to spend time thinking deeply about the country's past and future: The anniversary comes at a time of deep partisan divisions, particularly about the role of immigrants in this nation of them.
Trump directly addressed the nation's divide facing the nation in his Iowa appearance, criticizing Democrats who he says "hate" America, and offering the same sentiment in return. Trump made the comments in connection with final passage earlier in the day of his "big, beautiful bill," which implements tax and Medicaid cuts while dramatically expanding immigration enforcement, and was unanimously opposed by Congressional Democrats.
"I really do. I hate them. I cannot stand them because I really believe they hate our country, you want to know the truth." Trump said at what was billed as a nonpartisan semiquincentennial kickoff event.
Source: AOL General News
