U.S. President Trump participated in a rally held in Washington on the 24th in preparation for the July 4th 250th anniversary celebrations, delivering a speech that listed his achievements and declared, "I declare that America is back." He pushed a political agenda to the forefront, using this historic milestone to bolster his own appeal. Amid deepening partisan divisions, there was no sign of an attempt to foster national unity.
The rally was positioned as the opening ceremony for the 16-day celebration event starting on the 25th at the National Mall, a green space in central Washington. The event will showcase American history and exhibit specialty products from each state. It is operated by "Freedom 250," an organization established by the Trump administration.
The rally was initially planned as a concert, but artists successively withdrew, disliking the event's strong pro-Trump slant, leading Trump to deliver a speech himself.
Military aircraft performed a display flight at the rally. Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the USA," a staple at Trump's political rallies.
Regarding the 250th anniversary, the bipartisan organization "America 250," established by Congress, is also holding celebrations nationwide.
