As a growing list of musical acts announced they were dropping out of, or had never agreed to participate in, a series of concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Donald Trump said that he didn’t need them anyway.
“I don’t want so-called ‘artists’ that get paid far too much money, who aren’t happy,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “I only want to be surrounded by happy people, smart people, successful people and people that know how to win.”
The president instructed his “representatives” to look into making him the featured attraction of a planned 16-day “Great American State Fair” celebration on the National Mall in Washington DC later this month.
While it’s unclear whether the musicians will in fact be replaced by what Trump has called a “giant Make America Great Again Rally”, it would only be the latest, most pointed illustration of how the president has inserted himself directly into America’s Independence Day celebrations.
Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump frequently has reflected on how his four-year break from the presidency means that he now is serving a second term during historic national events – including this year’s World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
The last of these, with its red-white-and-blue pageantry dripping with patriotic pride, seems to be of particular interest to the president.
While the US Congress established an “America 250” commission to oversee the celebrations a decade ago, Trump-backed groups formed a competing, privately funded “Freedom 250” committee to host their own events.
The current list includes the state fair on the National Mall, a UFC fight at the White House, a physical fitness competition in Orlando, Florida, an August Grand Prix race through the streets of Washington and what Trump is billing as the world’s largest fireworks display on the Fourth of July.
The president frequently boasts of these events on social media, including through AI-generated images of him waving a green flag to kick off the street race and standing in front of an octagon fighting ring by the White House, flanked by lightning.
America 250, by contrast, is decidedly smaller, sponsoring art exhibits and coordinated “block parties” across the country.
Trump also focused on “beautification” projects around Washington in preparation for months of events.
Fountains in Sheridan Circle, Meridian Park and Columbus Circle among more than a dozen others – have been repaired. Lafayette Park, across from the White House, is currently closed for significant renovations.
A contractor is resurfacing the reflecting pool that stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument albeit with some concern over funding and the methods used.
Four bronze horse statues that stand near Memorial Bridge are set to be coated with 23.75 karat gold leaf. Crews have repaved streets in downtown Washington and repainted lamp posts.
