Trump says ‘America is back’ and ‘hottest anywhere’, promises new ‘golden age’ at US 250th birthday celebrations | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump kicked off 16 days of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence on Wednesday, with a rally-style speech on Washington’s National Mall touting his second-term agenda and declaring that the United States is now “the hottest country in the world.”
The event marked the beginning of the Great American State Fair, a nationwide parade of exhibits from all 50 states and six US territories, military displays, musical performances and patriotic attractions ahead of next year’s sesquicentennial celebrations.
‘America is back’
Trump opened his remarks with a familiar campaign-style message, claiming the country had made a dramatic jump under his leadership.
“As we approach the 250th year of independence, I am thrilled to announce that America is back,” Trump said.
“And as you well know, not long ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we are the hottest country in the world.”
The president described his administration as making rapid progress on many fronts, adding, “Every day of my administration, we deliver one historic victory after another for the American people.”
The Middle East and the domestic agenda are coming to the fore
Although the event was considered a national commemoration, Trump devoted much of the early part of his speech to recent foreign policy and domestic achievements.
He described the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran as a major success and hailed the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as one of the “great military raids in history”.
On domestic issues, Trump praised the US economy, attacked former President Joe Biden and claimed the country had attracted trillions of dollars in investment since he returned to office.
The Great American State Fair begins
The speech officially opened the Great American State Fair, a free festival running through July 10 along the National Mall in Washington.
The fair includes state pavilions, cultural displays, regional food displays, military flyovers, concerts, a 110-foot Ferris wheel and a restored Smithsonian carousel. Organizers also planned patriotic light displays, including a giant “250” projected onto the Washington Monument.
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Trump promises a new “golden age”
Throughout the speech, Trump repeatedly linked the anniversary celebrations to his broader political message, presenting himself as a leader who has restored American strength.
The Republican president promised a new American “golden age” and claimed the country had emerged from a period of decline.
Campaign style music, controversy and atmosphere
The event took on a political tone after several musicians reportedly withdrew from the original program citing concerns that the celebrations had become partisan.
Trump responded by declaring himself the main attraction and joking online that he could draw bigger crowds than Elvis Presley.
The revamped entertainment lineup featured Lee Greenwood, whose song God Bless the USA is a regular at Trump rallies, along with opera singer Christopher Macchio and military bands.
Focus on renovations in Washington
One of the liveliest parts of Trump’s speech came when discussing renovation projects in Washington, including improvements to monuments and public spaces.
He highlighted the city’s work and promised that the upcoming Independence Day celebrations would be “the biggest show of all”.
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