Trump Touts Tax Bill, Kickoffs Yearlong America’s 250th Celebration/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump opened America’s 250th anniversary celebrations with a fiery rally in Iowa. He celebrated his newly passed tax bill and tied patriotism tightly to his political agenda. Critics fear partisan overtones overshadow unity efforts for the milestone year.
America’s 250th Celebration Quick Look
- Trump launches yearlong 250th anniversary celebrations in Des Moines
- Touts tax cuts and political wins at Iowa rally
- Ties patriotism directly to his agenda, drawing criticism
- Thousands attend in sweltering heat, MAGA gear abundant
- National Mall fair planned to cap anniversary events
- Trump proposes “Patriot Games,” hints at UFC matches
- Budget cuts threaten humanities councils’ local celebrations
- Polls show stark partisan divide over patriotism
Trump Launches America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations with Iowa Rally
Deep Look
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump kicked off a yearlong celebration for America’s 250th anniversary in Iowa on Thursday night, turning the patriotic festival into a showcase of his political triumphs just hours after Congress passed his massive tax and spending bill.
Speaking on the eve of the Fourth of July holiday, Trump declared, “There could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago, when Congress passed the one big beautiful bill to make America great again.”
Trump plans to sign the legislation during a White House picnic on Friday, beneath a flyover of stealth bombers and fighter jets that took part in recent airstrikes on Iran — a display of military power underscoring the force he’s used to shape both Washington and U.S. foreign policy.
“We’ve saved our country,” he told the roaring crowd, fists pumping, as Lee Greenwood’s anthem “God Bless the USA” played. The legislation, which he hailed as a landmark achievement, combines tax cuts with increased funding for deportations and cuts to healthcare and food assistance for low-income Americans.
The Iowa State Fairgrounds event marked the opening of a planned year of national festivities to honor 250 years of U.S. independence. Festivities are scheduled to culminate next summer on the National Mall in Washington, with exhibits from every state.
Organizers hope the anniversary can help bridge America’s deep political divides. Yet Trump left no doubt he sees patriotism intertwined with his political movement, accusing Democrats who opposed his bill of hating America.
Monica Crowley, U.S. ambassador and Trump’s liaison to the organizing group America250, said the anniversary should be a moment for unity. But while introducing the president, she instead praised him as the embodiment of America’s founding spirit.
“I don’t know what more people expect or want from an American president,” Crowley said. “He is literally fulfilling the entire job description, and so much more.”
Thousands of Trump supporters endured 90-plus degree heat, many decked out in “Make America Great Again” hats, “Ultra MAGA” shirts, and even a stuffed monkey wearing a tiny Trump T-shirt.
At one point during Trump’s speech, the sound of fireworks boomed nearby — a reminder that July 13 marks the anniversary of the assassination attempt on him in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“It’s only fireworks, I hope,” Trump quipped. “Famous last words.” He spoke from behind thick bulletproof glass, a change from his rallies a year ago.
“You always have to think positive,” he added. “I didn’t like that sound either.”
The crowd’s enthusiasm hardly wavered, as Trump boasted about recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a drop in egg prices, fewer migrants crossing the southern border, and his political victories.
“We got great marks in the first term, and this is going to blow it away,” Trump said. He added he likes referring to his wife Melania as “first lady” because “it reminds me that I’m president.”
Trump has often reflected on the historical coincidence of serving in the White House during the country’s 250th anniversary — a milestone he’s only reaching because he lost reelection in 2020, a defeat he still refuses to acknowledge.
During last year’s campaign, he promised an epic series of celebrations, proposing a “Great American State Fair.” On Thursday, he unveiled plans for the “Patriot Games,” a sports contest featuring high school athletes from around the country to highlight American skill and competitive spirit. He even floated the idea of hosting UFC fights on the White House lawn.
A recent Gallup poll shows patriotism remains deeply divided along partisan lines: Only about a third of Democrats say they’re proud to be American, compared with around 90% of Republicans. Meanwhile, a June AP-NORC poll found that about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump’s presidency, while 6 in 10 disapprove.
The administration’s own budget cuts are casting a shadow over the anniversary plans. The National Endowment for the Humanities recently notified state humanities councils that their federal grants were terminated, disrupting preparations for local 250th commemorations.
Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities and chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, said the cuts have already forced cancellations of programs, including public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
“It’s very hard to understand how we can protect and preserve people’s ability locally to make this mean something for them, and to celebrate what they want to celebrate, if you’re not funding the humanities councils,” Lyon said.
Trump, however, remains focused on the celebrations ahead. “This is going to be a birthday party like no other,” he promised the crowd.
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