Latest news with #TaskForce250
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
2026 expected to be yearlong celebration as America turns 250 years old
This year's Northern Colorado Fourth of July celebrations have just wrapped up, but next year those celebrations, including fireworks displays, could burn brighter as America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026. The nation's bicentennial in 1976 was a year in which Americans celebrated in earnest, not just over the Fourth of July holiday. President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect much of the same the entire year in 2026, predicting the celebration under his watch will reach "extraordinary" levels. Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa this month to kick off the celebration of America's 250th birthday. America will celebrate its semiquincentennial throughout 2026, culminating on Independence Day. The U.S. Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago, on July 4, 1776. In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250. As outlined by the order and headed by Trump, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and executing "an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence" on July 4, 2026. The task force is also responsible for the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed by the president in 2020 that is scheduled to open in July 2026. The United States Semiquincentennial, also known as America250, is a nonprofit dedicated to the celebration of the 250th anniversary across the country. The America250 site lists more than a dozen corporate partners, including Amazon, Coke and Walmart, and has information on events scheduled so far at states throughout the country. Gannett News Service contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: America turns 250 years old in 2026. Yearlong celebrations expected
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump has big plans for Fourth of July 2026. What we know about America's 250th.
As Americans gear up for Fourth of July 2025 festivities, some are already looking to 2026, the celebration of the country's 250th birthday. President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect much pomp and circumstance around the semiquincentennial starting this Fourth of July through 2026, with Trump predicting that the celebration under his watch will reach "extraordinary" levels. Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa on July 3 this year to kick off the celebration of America's 250th birthday, marking his first visit to the first-in-the-nation GOP caucus state since his return to the White House. Here's what to know about America250. Are retail stores open on 4th of July? Details on TJ Maxx, Belk, IKEA, more America will celebrate its semiquincentennial throughout 2026, culminating on Independence Day – July 4, 2026. However, the kickoff for America250 begins in 2025 at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Trump will deliver remarks about the initiative from the fairgrounds at 7:30 p.m. CT. The event is free and to RSVP, folks should complete the necessary online form on the America250 website. Fourth of July forecast: See where weather could disrupt fireworks, travel A variety of events throughout the country will make up America250, according to the America250 website. Some have already begun and others are still being planned. Here's a look at what to expect so far: America Innovates: A traveling tech exposition that will display the country's greatest innovations. America Waves: An initiative to create events where Americans can come together and wave American flags. Time Capsule: A collaboration among all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, to collect items for a time capsule to be buried in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026. A contest for students grades 3-12 to submit writing or artwork in response to the prompt, "What does America mean to you?" (available for the 2025-2026 school year in the fall). An oral and visual history effort to collect stories from everyday Americans, funded by Walmart (submit nominees to be interviewed on the America250 website). July 4, 2026 Activations: A national celebration in Washington, D.C. According to the America250 website, every state, U.S. territory and D.C. has a "commission" to "to plan, coordinate, and support commemorative activities." America250 will add links to each state's plan when the websites are available. As of July 2, links were available for all states except for Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma. The U.S. Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago, on July 4, 1776. In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250. As outlined by the order, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and executing "an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence" on July 4, 2026. The task force, over the nonprofit America 250, will also oversee the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed by the president in 2020 that is scheduled to open in July 2026. The America250 website lists more than a dozen corporate sponsors, including Amazon, Coca Cola and Walmart. Contributing: USA TODAY staff Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is America250? Major celebration planned for Fourth of July 2026
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump has big plans for America's next birthday. Historians have questions
WASHINGTON — As Americans mark the Fourth of July holiday this weekend, the Trump administration is planning ahead for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year, a moment of reflection for a nation beset by record-low patriotism and divided by heated culture wars over the country's identity. White House officials are actively involved in state and local planning for the semiquincentennial after the president, in one of his first acts in office, established 'Task Force 250' to organize 'a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion.' The administration has launched a website offering its telling of the nation's founding, and Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' — which he had hoped to pass by this Independence Day — includes a provision allocating $40 million to commission 250 statues for a 'National Garden of American Heroes,' to be built at an undetermined location. Trump has been thinking about the 250th anniversary for years. He invoked the occasion in his first joint session to Congress in 2017, stating it would be 'one of the great milestones in the history of the world.' And in 2023, campaigning for a second term, he proposed a 'Great American State Fair' to take place around the country throughout the year. But that milestone year comes amid fierce debate over Trump's attempts to exert government control over the teaching of American history. In March, Trump signed an executive order aimed at 'restoring truth and sanity to American history,' directing public institutions to limit their presentation of the nation's history without nuance or criticism. 'This is not a return to sanity,' the Organization of American Historians responded at the time. 'Rather, it sanitizes to destroy truth.' On the 'America 250' website created by the White House, the account of the nation's founding is outsourced to Hillsdale College, a far-right institution that was a member of the advisory board for Project 2025. 'A question over this coming year is whether the celebrations around the 250th will be used as yet another cudgel in the culture wars where the goal is to divide rather than unite,' said David Ekbladh, a history professor at Tufts University. 'The view Trump's 'Task Force 250' seems to be laying out is comfortable, but doesn't give us a full view of that historical moment,' Ekbladh said. 'And a full view doesn't reduce things to a story of tragedy or oppression — although there was plenty of both — but can show us the full set of experiences that were the foundations of a dynamic country.' In 1976, when the United States marked its 200th birthday, the festivities were prolific. Federal government letterhead was decorated for over a year to mark the anniversary. State-sponsored celebrations were designed to revive a national sense of patriotism that had been challenged by a stagflating economy, lingering trauma from the political convulsions of the late 1960s and the Vietnam War. A full schedule of events has yet to be made public. But scholars expect echoes of 1976, when government efforts to instill pride in a weary nation met with mixed success. 'In 1976, there were dueling celebrations: official, government-sponsored ones, and 'people's' observances organized by progressive groups,' said Michael Kazin, a history professor at Georgetown University. 'I expect something of that kind will occur next year too.' There are significant differences. This time, the nation will celebrate a constitutional system of checks and balances under historic pressure from a president testing the bounds of executive power. 'Two hundred and fifty years of constitutional democracy is well worth honoring,' said Andrew Rudalevige, a history professor at Bowdoin College, 'but this particular anniversary is symbolic in ways that resonate exactly opposite to Trump's vision of governance and history.' Most of the Declaration of Independence, Rudalevige noted, is dedicated to laying out 'how centralized executive authority leads to tyranny, and must be opposed.' And the document's promise of inalienable rights and the pursuit of happiness have been a beacon of hope and inspiration to immigrants since the founding. 'So the next year will mark a hugely important tension between the version of American history that Mr. Trump and his allies want taught — and actual American history,' Rudalevige said. 'We will have a sort of polarized patriotism.' That polarization has already become evident in recent polling. A survey published by Gallup this week found that a historically low number of Americans feel patriotic, with 58% of U.S. adults identifying as 'extremely' or 'very' proud to be an American. That is nine points lower than last year, and the lowest figure registered by Gallup since they began polling on the matter in 2001. Pride among Republicans has stayed relatively consistent, with 92% registering as patriotic. But it has plummeted among Democrats and independents. And pride decreased across parties by age group, with more Democrats in Gen Z — those born between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s — telling Gallup they have 'little' or 'no' pride in being an American than saying they are extremely or very proud. If nothing else, historians said, the anniversary is an opportunity for everyday Americans to reflect on the country they want to live in. 'To be sure, for many people the day is just a day off and maybe a chance to go to a parade and see some fireworks,' said Ekbladh, of Tufts. 'But the day can and should be a moment to think about what the country is.' The must-read: Even some Orange County Republicans question Trump sweeps targeting immigrant workersThe deep dive: How Trump's big budget bill would jump-start his immigration agendaThe L.A. Times Special: Trump was winning with Latinos. Now, his cruelty is derailing him More to come,Michael Wilner—Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Indianapolis Star
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Trump has big plans for Fourth of July 2026. What we know about America's 250th.
As Americans gear up for Fourth of July 2025 festivities, some are already looking to 2026, the celebration of the country's 250th birthday. President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect much pomp and circumstance around the semiquincentennial starting this Fourth of July through 2026, with Trump predicting that the celebration under his watch will reach "extraordinary" levels. Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa on July 3 this year to kick off the celebration of America's 250th birthday, marking his first visit to the first-in-the-nation GOP caucus state since his return to the White House. Here's what to know about America250. Are retail stores open on 4th of July? Details on TJ Maxx, Belk, IKEA, more America will celebrate its semiquincentennial throughout 2026, culminating on Independence Day – July 4, 2026. However, the kickoff for America250 begins in 2025 at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Trump will deliver remarks about the initiative from the fairgrounds at 7:30 p.m. CT. The event is free and to RSVP, folks should complete the necessary online form on the America250 website. Fourth of July forecast: See where weather could disrupt fireworks, travel A variety of events throughout the country will make up America250, according to the America250 website. Some have already begun and others are still being planned. Here's a look at what to expect so far: According to the America250 website, every state, U.S. territory and D.C. has a "commission" to "to plan, coordinate, and support commemorative activities." America250 will add links to each state's plan when the websites are available. As of July 2, links were available for all states except for Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma. The U.S. Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago, on July 4, 1776. In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250. As outlined by the order, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and executing "an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence" on July 4, 2026. The task force, over the nonprofit America 250, will also oversee the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed by the president in 2020 that is scheduled to open in July 2026. The America250 website lists more than a dozen corporate sponsors, including Amazon, Coca Cola and Walmart. Contributing: USA TODAY staff
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump has big plans for Fourth of July 2026. What we know about America's 250th.
As Americans gear up for Fourth of July 2025 festivities, some are already looking to 2026, the celebration of the country's 250th birthday. President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect much pomp and circumstance around the semiquincentennial starting this Fourth of July through 2026, with Trump predicting that the celebration under his watch will reach "extraordinary" levels. Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa on July 3 this year to kick off the celebration of America's 250th birthday, marking his first visit to the first-in-the-nation GOP caucus state since his return to the White House. Here's what to know about America250. Are retail stores open on 4th of July? Details on TJ Maxx, Belk, IKEA, more When is America250? America will celebrate its semiquincentennial throughout 2026, culminating on Independence Day – July 4, 2026. However, the kickoff for America250 begins in 2025 at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Trump will deliver remarks about the initiative from the fairgrounds at 7:30 p.m. CT. The event is free and to RSVP, folks should complete the necessary online form on the America250 website. Fourth of July forecast: See where weather could disrupt fireworks, travel What events make up America250? A variety of events throughout the country will make up America250, according to the America250 website. Some have already begun and others are still being planned. Here's a look at what to expect so far: How is America250 being celebrating in your state? According to the America250 website, every state, U.S. territory and D.C. has a "commission" to "to plan, coordinate, and support commemorative activities." America250 will add links to each state's plan when the websites are available. As of July 2, links were available for all states except for Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma. How old is the United States? The U.S. Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago, on July 4, 1776. Who is behind America250? In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250. As outlined by the order, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and executing "an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence" on July 4, 2026. The task force, over the nonprofit America 250, will also oversee the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed by the president in 2020 that is scheduled to open in July 2026. The America250 website lists more than a dozen corporate sponsors, including Amazon, Coca Cola and Walmart. Contributing: USA TODAY staff Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
