President Donald Trump launched the “America 250” commemorations with a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on 3 July, framing the event as the opening of a year-long series of festivities that will culminate on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on 4 July 2026. The programme, organised by the congressionally chartered America250 commission, features concerts, fireworks and future nationwide events, including a large fair on Washington’s National Mall and new “Patriot Games” sports contests for high-school athletes. Trump chose Iowa for the kick-off, citing its central location and electoral support, and appeared alongside singer Lee Greenwood and Cabinet members Kristi Noem and Brooke Rollins. Ambassador Monica Crowley, the White House liaison to America250, said the anniversary is intended to foster “shared values and civic pride” despite deep political divisions. The President used the appearance to celebrate passage of his flagship economic package, a sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that cleared the House earlier in the day by 218–214. Trump told supporters he would sign the legislation at a White House picnic on Independence Day, calling the vote “a phenomenal victory” and linking it to the patriotic theme of the celebrations. Organisers face challenges financing the nationwide programme after federal cuts led the National Endowment for the Humanities to cancel grants that many state councils planned to use for local anniversary events. A June AP-NORC poll shows only about four in ten Americans approve of Trump’s performance, and Gallup finds the widest partisan gap in patriotism in more than two decades, underscoring the political backdrop against which the America 250 campaign will unfold.