Trump to Kick Off America’s 250th Celebration In Iowa/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump heads to Iowa to launch a yearlong celebration for America’s 250th anniversary. The Des Moines event promises patriotic displays and aims to unite a divided nation. Trump hopes the festivities will rekindle civic pride across the country.
Quick Look
Trump Launches America’s 250th Quick Look
- Trump opens yearlong America250 events Thursday in Iowa.
- Festivities include patriotic shows, music, and fireworks.
- Organizers hope to unite Americans amid deep polarization.
- Iowa chosen for central location and Trump’s strong ties.
- Gallup shows deep partisan split in American patriotism.
- Trump’s approval remains low as big legislative fights loom.
- Major national celebration to culminate on National Mall next year.
Trump to Launch America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration With Iowa Kickoff Event
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, who campaigned on delivering a “spectacular” yearlong birthday celebration for America’s 250th anniversary, will travel to Iowa on Thursday to officially kick off the festivities leading up to the milestone next year.
The launch event, set for the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, promises “dazzling” displays of American history and patriotism, musical performances, and a fireworks finale, according to U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, Trump’s liaison to America250, the group coordinating the commemorations.
Organizers hope the year of celebrations can foster unity in a nation deeply divided along political and cultural lines—a formidable challenge amid ongoing partisanship. Thursday’s event arrives as the Republican-led Congress is locked in fierce debate over Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, which has provoked unanimous opposition from Democrats. Meanwhile, Trump’s national approval ratings remain underwater.
Why Iowa?
Crowley called Iowa a “logical choice” for the launch, citing its central location and Trump’s political ties to the state, which supported him in the last three elections. She added that Iowa’s geographic heartland symbolism underscores the aim of using the anniversary to bridge national divides.
“We’ve had so much division and polarization over the last many decades, certainly in the last few years,” Crowley said. “To bring the country together to celebrate America’s 250th birthday through patriotism, shared values, and a renewed sense of civic pride—doing it in the center of the country is incredibly important.”
A recent Gallup poll highlighted America’s partisan rift over patriotism: roughly 90% of Republicans said they were proud to be American, compared to about a third of Democrats. Trump’s approval sits at around 40%, according to a June AP-NORC poll, while about 60% disapprove. The same poll showed most Americans felt Trump’s military parade in Washington last month, marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, was “not a good use” of taxpayer dollars.
Drawing Historical Parallels
Crowley pointed out that America’s last major bicentennial in 1976 also followed a period of national turmoil, including the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal that toppled President Richard Nixon.
“That moment was critical to uniting the country and moving forward,” Crowley said. “I’m very optimistic and hopeful that the yearlong celebration we’re about to launch will do the same in this present moment.”
She added, “America’s 250th birthday is something I believe all Americans can come together to celebrate—to honor our history, our present, and our future.”
The United States declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
During his Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump teased the coming celebrations: “We’re gonna have a big, big celebration, as you know, 250 years. In some ways, I’m glad I missed that second term where it was because I wouldn’t be your president for that.”
A Promise From the Campaign Trail
Video from Trump’s 2023 campaign stop in Iowa, where he proposed a “Great American State Fair,” resurfaced after his reelection last November. Earlier this year, Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds told the White House that the state stood “ready” to host the kickoff and fully backed the president’s plans, according to a draft letter obtained by the AP.
While the culminating anniversary fair is planned for the National Mall in Washington next year, Trump chose to honor his original proposal with Thursday’s kickoff in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
The evening’s lineup includes singer Lee Greenwood, whose anthem “God Bless the USA” has become a staple at Trump rallies. Also expected are Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
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