Trump Loudly Leads U.S. 250th Anniversary Celebration; Independence Day Events Spark Political Controversy

U.S. President Trump will hold a large rally with campaign-style overtones at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday (July 4) to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, bringing closure to a weeks-long celebration. The event has sparked ongoing controversy due to accusations of excessive politicization and exacerbating social divisions.

According to reports from Reuters and AFP, traditional Independence Day festivities—including fireworks displays and parades—will take place across the United States on Saturday. As the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, Philadelphia will distribute free cupcake treats to the public and host a six-hour pop music concert; New York will feature an international tall ship procession.

However, in the nation’s capital, Trump became the focal point of the day’s celebrations.

Trump is scheduled to deliver a major speech at the National Mall on Saturday evening. The event will be held between several iconic Washington landmarks and will include flyovers by military aircraft and an enormous fireworks display. Trump claimed it would be “the largest fireworks show in the world”—featuring 850,000 fireworks ignited within 40 minutes—and previously described the event as “the most spectacular Trump rally ever.”

On Saturday, Trump also posted on his social platform Truth Social: “Despite the hot weather, it’s not as bad as expected—crowds gathering in Washington are incredible.”

Throughout the streets of Washington, people could be seen wearing clothing in the red, white, and blue colors of the American flag or sporting star-spangled accessories.

Annual Independence Day celebrations in Washington typically draw hundreds of thousands of attendees. This year, visitors faced extreme heat—reaching up to 38°C—as well as possible thunderstorms, along with significantly tightened security measures. Most areas of the National Mall were fenced off.

On the same day, groups including the white nationalist organization Patriot Front arrived in Washington. The group announced on social media that they had reached the capital.

Founded in 2017, Patriot Front is known for its highly organized, flash-mob-style street demonstrations.

Accusations of Excessive Politicization

Reports indicate that past U.S. presidents have generally avoided turning official Independence Day events into personal political rallies. However, Trump’s arrangements this year blurred the line between national commemoration and personal political campaigning.

International Leaders Offer Congratulatory Messages

On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV, the first pope of the United States, sent a message to all Americans. Having criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies on multiple occasions, he praised in his message “the hope, sacrifice, and contributions of immigrants,” emphasizing that immigrants have been an inseparable part of America’s history since its founding.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom also issued a congratulatory statement, saying he “has no doubt” that the UK and the U.S. will continue to jointly uphold shared values in the future.

Public Opinion: Majority of Americans Believe Celebration Is Too Political

A joint survey conducted by Reuters and Ipsos revealed that a majority of Americans believe the 250th-anniversary celebration has become overly politicized—including about three-quarters of Democratic supporters and roughly half of Republican supporters.

Moreover, amid a broader reflection on the nation’s 250-year journey through triumph and tragedy, slavery and freedom, the Civil War, and two world wars, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows that 61% of Americans believe the U.S. has yet to truly achieve the ideals proclaimed in the 1776 Declaration of Independence.

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869839007795211/

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