America’s 250th Birthday Becomes a Trump-Driven Parade of Self-Promotion

The White House expands its role in the America 250th celebration, directing hundreds of millions through private contractors to stage Trump-centered events in Washington, after the administration cut funding for humanities groups. Local commemorations falter as a centralized, politically charged spectacle eclipses grassroots efforts; historians warn about who controls the nation’s memory of its founding, while some scholars say the anniversary is less about a shared history and more about the president’s narrative.