Trump is the frontman for his own party as rival groups vie to shape America’s 250th anniversary

WASHINGTON —The intricacies of American history are not difficult to see.

Just inside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the gavel Nancy Pelosi used when she became the first female speaker of the U.S. House hangs next to a red “Make America Great Again” cap. Next to a campaign tee for President Ronald Reagan, whose administration was condemned for ignoring the epidemic, hangs a shirt with a pink triangle and “Silence = Death” criticizing government inactivity during the AIDS crisis.

It’s part of a larger exhibit running around the museum called “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness,” in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence. On display are antiques like a Revolutionary War-period gunboat and a 1970 Earth Day flag, a reminder that as the U.S. deals with the issues and divisions of the era of President Donald Trump, they are not new.

“In some of those contestations, people find the hope and the resiliency to move forward,” said Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s director. “History is full of those moments when we think we are absolutely falling apart like we did in the Civil War and then we are trying to figure out how to put it back together again.”

A common thread is being tested That unifying theme will be put to the test in the run-up to the anniversary celebrations in the coming weeks, with Trump once again at the centre of attention. America 250, a bipartisan group created by Congress a decade ago, is facing a challenge from Freedom 250, a White House-aligned organization. Those groups combine to create a feeling that even a milestone anniversary can be a cause for discord.

The chaotic aftermath is obvious on the National Mall just outside the museum, where preparations are in full swing for “The Great American State Fair.” A wave of performers, including Martina McBride, cancelled appearances at the fair, stating they didn’t recognize the political overtone of the event. Now Trump himself is set to appear there Wednesday.

The split screen will be back on the Fourth of July, when America 250 hosts a concert in Los Angeles, hosted by Queen Latifah, with performers from Chris Stapleton and The Smashing Pumpkins, while the president goes to the National Mall for what he has called as a “Trump rally.”

Donald Trump is hardly the first president to give a high-profile July Fourth speech. Reagan’s speech in 1986 was from the New York harbor celebrating the statue’s 100th anniversary. President Gerald Ford gave a speech from Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1976 to mark the bicentennial.

Their themes were of commonality and unity, situating the occasion in a larger framework not so much about the presidents themselves. Reagan joked he “wouldn’t even think about trying to compete with a fireworks display” and said “all the celebration of this day is rooted in history.”

Ford referred to the "American adventure" as a "process still in progress."

“Liberty is a matter of equal and unalienable right for all men and women,” he stated. “The peace and justice that we create here in our own country, where we still show the way, will depend to a large extent on the establishment of justice and peace abroad.”

Trump likes to make it all about himself Trump, of course, does want to put the attention mostly on himself. Last year, he was the first president to host the Kennedy Center honors, after a Trump-backed board designated him chairman. The venue also renamed the building after him, leading to a federal judge declaring the move unconstitutional and ordering it removed.

More lately, Trump has reshaped Washington in his image, tearing down the East Wing of the White House to make way for a ballroom and working toward building a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. He’s contemplating upgrades at East Potomac Park even as he’s contending with a resurgence of algae at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which he refurbished last month. He just held a UFC fight at the White House.”

“Trump is creating the story,” said Mark Updegrove, chairman of the LBJ Foundation and a presidential historian. “Trump doesn’t view himself as the custodian of the presidency. He thinks he's it.”

The country is soberly inclined as the anniversary approaches. Just about one-quarter of Americans feel the United States is above all other countries in the globe, according to an April study from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Roughly three in 10 say there are better countries than the U.S., up from 19% in an AP-NORC poll in June 2016.

Far fewer Americans than a few years ago say that a democratically elected government is “extremely” or “very” crucial to the United States’ identity as a nation. Now, over two-thirds of U.S. people (66%) feel a democratically elected government is very important to the U.S.’s character as a nation, vs 80% in 2021.

Big cultural moments have fresh competition. Against that background it is no surprise that groups dedicated to the anniversary have proliferated. Even this year’s Super Bowl halftime show — often one of the few cultural occasions that unite most of the country — had to compete with a rival program this year, when conservatives objected to Bad Bunny singing on the main stage.

With the holiday looming, the two main factions – Freedom 250 and America 250 – are publicly trying to play down any tensions.

“We’re sparking a unifying movement across all 50 states,” said Freedom 250 spokeswoman Rachel Reisner, adding that the organization is focusing on “signature events and initiatives,” including the fair.

“Whether it’s eight straight ball drops across the country, student competitions or a massive volunteer effort, my top priority is to deliver programming for all Americans,” said Rosie Rios, chair of America 250. As for other groups that have sprung up like Freedom 250, “The more celebrations, the merrier.”

We can't be everything to all Americans, Rios remarked. But we have something for every American and the more possibilities from everyone to participate in July 4th and beyond, we’re excited.”