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.

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.