Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger marked Independence Day at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, laying a wreath at the first president’s tomb before serving as keynote speaker at a naturalization ceremony that conferred U.S. citizenship on 100 immigrants from 95 countries. Calling Washington “America’s first action hero,” Schwarzenegger told the new citizens he “owed everything to this country” and urged them to embrace civic participation. The event, organised by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, concluded with the oath of allegiance and voter-registration appeals from officials. The ceremony mirrored a growing July 4 trend: naturalisation events timed to the holiday. In Mesa, Arizona, a separate ceremony welcomed another 100 people representing 41 nations, underscoring the day’s dual role as a celebration of both existing and newly minted Americans.