Trump opens celebrations for 250th anniversary of the USA with extensive self-promotion

A speech in campaign mode

Trump's roughly 30-minute speech resembled a campaign address for large stretches. He praised himself for his economic policy of lower taxes and supposedly reduced spending, and described the USA as being in a «goldenen Zeitalter». Trump claimed America was «das heisseste Land» with the best economy in the history of mankind. He also said: «1776, was das doch für eine Zeit war», and drew parallels between the Founding Fathers — who had also fought against the «politische Establishment» — and himself. His stated goals, he said, were sovereignty and the return of the USA to its former strength.

Trump again addressed the war with Iran and promised that gas prices would drop significantly once the conflict ended. Regarding the Middle East, he said: «Zum ersten Mal in den vergangenen 3000 Jahren werden wir endlich im Nahen Osten Frieden haben.» Trump also attacked his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, blaming him for a «Desaster» that had finally been overcome. Looking ahead to the upcoming congressional elections in November and his own political agenda, he mentioned controversial construction projects such as the new ballroom at the White House as well as measures by his administration to restrict the rights of transgender people.

Military spectacle and people's festival

Between the speaking segments, fighter jets and bombers of the US Air Force flew in formation over the National Mall, and a military band played US hits. Trump ended his speech with the slogan of his movement: «Wir werden Amerika wieder grossartig machen. (...) Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Amerika!» He also had the United States Marine Band play the song «YMCA» for him and danced along. Earlier, he had announced on his platform Truth Social that there would be the «Grösste Live-Kundgebung aller Zeiten», and written: «Alles, was wir wollen, seid ihr, ich, ein paar Redner und die grossartigste Musik, die je gespielt wurde – dieselbe Musik, die ihr seit Jahren hört!»

The event also marked the kickoff of the so-called «Great American State Fair», an approximately two-week people's festival with a concert stage, Ferris wheel, and food stalls, set to take place on the National Mall around the national holiday. Trump announced that the USA would host «die unvergesslichste Geburtstagsparty» that any country had ever experienced. He also offered congratulations to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the state of the soccer World Cup; Trump has not, however, visited any stadium so far. Regarding the state of the tournament, he said everything was «phantastisch» and everyone was happy.

Cancellations and criticism

During the program, several prominent musicians pulled out, including The Commodores, Poison frontman Bret Michaels, and Fabrice «Fab» Morvan of Milli Vanilli. Many of those affected justified their withdrawal by citing the increasingly political character of the event. The organizing committee «Freedom 250» subsequently restructured the evening program. Trump had previously written on Truth Social regarding the cancellations: «Wir wollen keine talentlosen Sänger, die euch mit ihren hohen Gagen in den Schlaf wiegen - wir haben ihnen allen gesagt, sie sollen zu Hause bleiben.»

Unpleasant headlines also intruded on the celebrations, however: a costly renovation of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall has recently suffered from algae infestation. In addition, ABC News, citing political scientist Daniel Treisman of the University of California, Los Angeles, pointed out that Trump's priorities in his second term were «nicht die seiner breiteren Wählerbasis». «Das erklärt seine ungewöhnlich niedrigen Zustimmungswerte», Treisman said. Trump repeated his conviction before the audience: «Amerika ist zurück». Two years ago, according to Trump, the whole world had been laughing at the USA. Now, he said, nobody was laughing anymore.

Background: 250 years of independence

The USA celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence on July 4. The capital, Washington, is named after George Washington, the first president of the United States, who served from 1789 to 1797. With the opening celebration on Wednesday evening, an extensive festival program began that was intended to place the country's history at the center — though Trump's appearance clearly stamped it with his own political agenda and campaign rhetoric.