A New York Fire Department vessel sprays its water cannons in the New York harbor during ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America's 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
05 Jul 2026 05:05AM
WASHINGTON: Americans celebrated 250 years of independence Saturday (Jul 4) with conflicting emotions as pride, hope and patriotism battled with uncertainty and unease over the country's direction.On Washington's grassy National Mall, lined by monuments and museums, thousands sweltered in multiblock lines as temperatures neared 100F (38C).With National Guard troops - controversially deployed across Washington by President Donald Trump - imposing crowd control, forklifts dropped pallets of bottled water which crowds clawed through in scenes evoking a disaster response. Still the mood was joyous, with chants of "USA! USA! USA!" breaking out in one set of lines near the National Gallery.
Nearby, Iowa state congressman Eddie Andrews was hanging off the back of a farm tractor draped with stars-and-stripes livery, shouting "God bless America!" at the top of his lungs to crowds headed toward the Mall."Really this day, 250 years ago, really marked the new modern day of freedom, and it's why America leads the world in so many areas," he told AFP, between laps through downtown DC.A few blocks away, Donna Dasher and her husband Albert were trying to get a photo of the White House."I think it's just the greatest event in our nation's history," Dasher said. "President Trump is trying to do everything he can to make it the greatest celebration, and some people say, 'Oh, it's about Trump.' No, it's not."The Dashers traveled from Richmond Hill, Georgia to celebrate both America's anniversary and their own, adding that they were holding military veterans - including some members of their family - in their thoughts during the festivities.
