Key facts
- President Donald Trump will headline a rally on the National Mall to launch America's 250th birthday festivities.
- Country singer Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, is scheduled to perform.
- Other performers include Lee Greenwood and tenor Christopher Macchio.
- The event is part of a larger 16-day "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall.
- Freedom 250, a Trump-created organization, is a key planner for many events, including a large fireworks display.
President Donald Trump is set to launch weeks of festivities celebrating America's 250th birthday with a rally on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The event, scheduled for Wednesday evening, will feature military bands, a speech from Trump, and performances by country singer Alexis Wilkins and Lee Greenwood.
Trump announced his participation after several musicians withdrew from planned performances, citing concerns that the celebrations had become politicized. He stated he would host "the Greatest Rally, EVER!" and "Rally to end all Rallies," with Wilkins and Greenwood confirmed as performers. Wilkins, who is the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, announced her participation independently.
The rally is tied to "The Great American State Fair" on the National Mall, a 16-day exposition running from June 25 to July 10, organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump. Congress has allocated $150 million for the birthday celebration, with Freedom 250 also contributing significant funds. Other events include a large fireworks display on July 4, a time capsule burial in Philadelphia, and a concert in Los Angeles.
Controversies surrounding the anniversary preparations include a beautification project at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which involved painting the historic pool blue. The paint began peeling and algae formed, leading to criticism and Trump blaming vandals.