Washington, United States. President Donald Trump on Wednesday opened a 16-day celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary with a political rally on the National Mall, beginning festivities that have been shaped by controversy over his governing approach and efforts to remake Washington.
Anniversary event opens with rally
Trump is using the event to promote a message of national renewal ahead of the Independence Day milestone on July 4. The kickoff highlights how he has combined official commemoration with campaign-style politics by reshaping a public fair in the nation’s capital around the rally format that has defined his presidency.
Friction over programming and venue changes
The anniversary events have been marked by months of friction, including unconventional programming, the withdrawal of several musical acts and Trump’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool near the celebration site.
The festival had initially been set to feature performers including Poison frontman Bret Michaels, Young MC and the Commodores, but those acts and others withdrew amid concerns about taking part in what they viewed as a potentially partisan event.
The revised program includes musical performances by Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio, two artists favored by Trump, as well as military bands.
Political backdrop
The event comes at a difficult political moment for Trump. The nearly four-month-old Iran war has pushed consumer prices to a three-year high and unsettled many voters, while the White House is seeking to counter perceptions that the term-limited Republican is becoming a lame-duck president.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that one in four Americans believes the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran was worth its costs, and 34% approve of Trump’s overall performance in office 17 months into his second term.
Trump’s personal role in the celebrations
Trump has taken a personal interest in the anniversary events, installing statues and other features around Washington and ordering a $16 million repair of the reflecting pool. On Tuesday, he said six people had been arrested for damaging the pool.
Last week, Trump also hosted mixed martial arts fights on the South Lawn of the White House, an event that drew millions of television viewers but was viewed unfavorably by most Americans.