The US at 250: Patriotism, pageantry, and politics in its historic anniversary

COME JULY 4, the United States of America will be 250 years old as an independent, sovereign nation (besides the world’s richest and perhaps the most powerful country). The 250th birthday of America will be celebrated nationwide as per the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence from British rule on July 4, 1776, along with numerous other freedom-ushering-in events preceding the anniversary celebrations. 

America’s semi-quincentennial 250th founding day celebrations commenced this year on January 1, 2026, nationwide when the historical, the Washington Monument, was lit with festive birthday by lighting a ‘Gigantic Birthday Candle,’ especially designed for the occasion. “The illumination of the Washington Monument marked the beginning of the momentous year for our nation - 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

 Alongside multiple festivities, the Ultimate Fighting Championship event took place with prayers at the White House on June 14, 2026, which was also Flag Day, and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. A fair, called the ‘The Great American State Fair,’ will be also be organized on the National Mall on June 25 that will continue until July 25, featuring exhibits from all the 50 states of the union on the phenomenal events of the American history, America’s exclusive culture and nonpareil innovations, unveiling the ‘Story of America’s Journey,’ - celebrating its “most spectacular birthday the world has ever seen,’’ as desired by President Donald Trump.

These ‘spectacular’ shows will be organised and managed by national groups, namely, “Freedom250’’ and the “America250’’ under the U.S. Public Law 114-196, also known as the Semi-quincentennial Commission Act, 2016, during Trump’s first presidential term. This statute laid down that, as per this document, “America250” has been mandated to ‘plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the history of the U.S. leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.’

 During the whole semi-quincentennial year, 2026, ‘America250’, ‘Freedom250’, along with the White House Taskforce, will organise more than 60 national events during the nation’s year-long birthday celebrations. Besides, other festivities will include massive cultural programmes associated with many other national events at the National Initiatives. 

In addition, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for Public Impact Projects relating to literature, art and culture will be awarded up to $200,000 per project under the ‘America250’s vision.’ The main object of which is to create the most ‘inspiring and unifying commemoration and apposite celebration in the nation’s history, bringing Americans to reflect on the nation’s history and its future.’

 Meanwhile, during the July 4 national Independence Day festivities in all 50 states, the president has touted a ‘Great American State Fair’ across the country and on the National Mall. The ‘Freedom250’ activities kicked off by turning the Washington Monument into the ‘world’s tallest birthday candle,’ along with projections depicting the nation’s ‘discovery, expansion, independence, and the future.’ There will also be “Patriot Games”, a nationally televised ‘Freedom 250 Competition for School athletes, boys and girls… particularly the Hunger Games for participants- (‘hunger games’ is an annual event wherein there’s a fight to the death and survival). Trump’s approach to the July 4 birthday festivities is said to have been influenced by the ‘Culture Wars of 2020.’
Under the newly re-established 1776 Commission, President Trump has tasked it with creating a ‘patriotic’ ecosphere by lecture series intimately related to the country’s founding, to be broadcast nationally throughout 2026. The 1776 Commission’s version of history is reflected in Trump’s ‘statue garden, which remains a key part of the president’s ‘America250’ vision. 

President Trump is said to have underscored the need to celebrate the ‘American Exceptionalism,’ according to an independent author, Mary L.G. Theroux. She further avers: “While we enter a year celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, there will likely be much soul-searching about how well we have delivered on the promise - the Independent will bring much to the conversation.”
Meanwhile, Keith Krach, the Chief Executive of Freedom250, who served as a senior State Department official during Trump’s first term, has said in a statement that ‘the illumination of the Washington Monument’, “- invite every American - and every friend of America - to join this historic celebration of the triumph of the American spirit.” 

In addition, the ‘AmericaGroup250’ has planned a 25-minute projection that displays recurring at the top of each hour each night, cycling through five themed segments: Discovery; Revolution- Independence; Westward Expansion; the Industrial Revolution and the 20th Century; and Modern Day and the Future of the Nation. 

Some of these projections are computer-generated, and images were received from the National Archives and the American Library of Congress. All these and more kerfuffles were envisaged before Trump’s second term commenced in January 2025. Soon after his inauguration on January 20 last, President Trump seized the opportunity and started planning ‘America250’, ‘Freedom250’, and the November 20, 2026. The President’s executive orders were on the way, and soon after, on December 2. The initial preparations for all these works are also on the way. “We will renew the patriotism, pride and pioneering spirit of America,’’ the President said in a December talk, “and lay the groundwork for the next 250 years.’’

Meanwhile, according to a recent report in the daily newspaper USA Today, the opposition Democratic Party has criticised Trump’s America250 plans. The U.S. Treasury Department proposal to print President Donald Trump’s face on a $1 coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and a quarter-dollar coin honouring national heroes from the abolitionist, suffragette and civil rights eras has been scrapped and will be replaced by the nation’s early White pioneers and revolutionaries. 

(America’s) Opposition Democratic Party members of both legislative houses, Congress -- the Senate and the House of Representatives-- members (termed as ‘Congressmen’ and ‘Congresswomen,’) have vehemently criticised the Trump Administration. They opine that Trump’s schemes shouldn’t valorise a living president, and should reflect the full scope of American history.
 Further, USA Today points out that it would be like policies under the Trump administration when the United States Mint made the decision in 2025 to feature the president’s face on currency, which broke the long-standing centuries-old tradition. The lawmakers are also questioning the legality of the Trump coin (already issued) for all categories.
 
Be that as it may, most schemes drawn up under America250 and Freedom 250 are estimated to cost several billion: according to one estimate, between $12 billion and $15 billion. Only time will tell how much this fanfare will be worth. Perhaps the only thing one can say with a certain amount of certainty is that Donald Trump’s face will be seen day in and day out all over the American media outlets. 

The writer was a professor and head of print journalism in Delhi’s Indian Institute of Mass Communication, ex-head-founder, journalism-communication department  University of Calicut, kerala and has authored-edited  five books on mass  media.