When Next250 organizers began planning for America’s 250th birthday, they envisioned bringing together communities in a polarized country to celebrate democracy.

What was originally billed as the start of the ‘Great American State Fair’ instead became just another rally for the coup-attempting, convicted felon president.

The US president put himself and his policies at the centre of the opening event on the National Mall in Washington.

Event blurs lines between commemoration and campaign as low approval ratings persist

It was almost as if the last 250 years never happened.

It was almost as if the last 250 years never happened.

President Trump kicks off America's 250th national anniversary with a rally-style speech, blending national commemoration with his political agenda. Read m

The milestone called for the epic vision of a JFK or the soaring oratory of a Barack Obama. Instead it got a Trump rally

Celebrations for the country’s 250th kicked off with a MAGA oasis.

Democrats and Republicans are fighting over what the event represents and whether the White House has politicized the celebration.

“They’re taking that down,” says Keith Krach when I ask if the White House’s UFC stage will still be up on July 4, as Donald Trump had suggested. “I think they’re disassembling it…

Trump’s desperation to leave his mark on the country is consuming our nation’s semiquincentennial.

When Next250 organizers began planning for America’s 250th birthday, they envisioned bringing together communities in a polarized country to celebrate democracy.

America is getting ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary since it split from Britain's monarchy and embarked on its experiment in democracy.