WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The complexities of the American story aren’t hard to miss.
Just steps into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the gavel used by when she became the first female speaker of the U.S. House sits next to a red 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� cap. A shirt emblazoned with a pink triangle and 鈥淪ilence = Death鈥� protesting the government’s inaction during the crisis hangs alongside a campaign shirt for President , whose administration was blamed for ignoring the epidemic.
The display is part of a broader exhibit flowing throughout the museum dubbed 鈥淚n Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness,鈥� commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. With artifacts ranging from a Revolutionary War-era gunboat to a 1970 Earth Day flag, it’s a reminder that the challenges and divides gripping the U.S. in the age of President , while stark, are not new.
鈥淚n some of those contestations, people find the hope and the resiliency to move forward,鈥� said Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s director. 鈥淗istory is filled with those moments where we think we’re completely falling apart as we did in the Civil War and then we’re trying to figure out how to build it back together again.鈥�
A unifying theme is being tested
That unifying theme is being tested as the anniversary celebrations intensify in the coming weeks with Trump once again giving himself central billing. The creation of Freedom 250, an organization aligned with the White House, has come to rival America 250, a bipartisan group founded by Congress a decade ago. The different groups add to a sense that even a milestone anniversary can become the source of division.
The tumultuous aftermath is apparent on the National Mall just outside the museum, where preparations are underway for 鈥淭he Great American State Fair.鈥� A including Martina McBride pulled out of performances at the fair, saying they didn’t realize the political overtone of the event. Trump himself is now planning to speak there Wednesday.
The split screen will return on July Fourth as America 250 holds a concert in Los Angeles hosted by Queen Latifah and featuring performances from Chris Stapleton and The Smashing Pumpkins while the president returns to the National Mall for what he has described as a 鈥淭rump rally.鈥�
Trump is not the first president to deliver a high-profile July Fourth speech. In 1986, Reagan spoke from New York Harbor marking the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. In 1976, President Gerald Ford delivered an address from Independence Hall in Philadelphia commemorating the bicentennial.
Their themes emphasized commonality and unity, framing the moment in a broader context that had little to do with the presidents themselves. Reagan joked he 鈥渨ouldn’t even think about trying to compete with a fireworks display鈥� while noting 鈥渁ll the celebration of this day is rooted in history.鈥�
Ford spoke of the 鈥淎merican adventure鈥� as a 鈥渃ontinuing process.鈥�
鈥淟iberty is for all men and women as a matter of equal and unalienable right,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he establishment of justice and peace abroad will in large measure depend upon the peace and justice we create here in our own country, where we still show the way.鈥�
Trump tends to place the focus on himself
Trump, of course, tends to place more of the focus squarely on himself. He became the first president to host the Kennedy Center honors last year after a Trump-backed board named him chairman. The venue added his name to the building as well, prompting a federal judge to declare the move illegal .
More recently, Trump has remade Washington in his image, of the White House to make way for a ballroom and moving toward building a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. He’s eyeing renovations at even as he struggles with the return of algae at the , which he remodeled last month. He recently hosted a at the White House.
鈥淭rump is putting himself at the center of the story,鈥� said Mark Updegrove, chairman of the LBJ Foundation and a presidential historian. “Trump does not consider himself the steward of the presidency. He considers himself the embodiment of it.鈥�
The country is in a dour mood as the anniversary approaches. Only about one-quarter of Americans say the U.S. stands above all other countries in the world, according to an from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 3 in 10 say there are better countries than the U.S., an increase from 19% in conducted in June 2016.
Americans are less likely to see a democratically elected government as 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� important to the United States鈥� identity as a nation than they were just a few years ago. About two-thirds of U.S. adults now say a democratically elected government is highly important to the U.S.鈥檚 identity as a nation, down from 80% in 2021.
Big cultural moments face new rivals
Against that backdrop, it’s little wonder that groups dedicated to the anniversary have multiplied. Even this year’s Super Bowl halftime show 鈥� typically one of the few cultural moments bringing together much of the country 鈥� contended with a rival program this year after performing on the main stage.
Heading into the final days before the holiday, the main groups 鈥� Freedom 250 and America 250 鈥� are outwardly aiming to downplay any tensions.
Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner said the organization was focused on 鈥渟ignature events and initiatives,鈥� including the fair, and is 鈥渟parking a unifying movement across all 50 states.鈥�
Rosie Rios, the chair of America 250, said her main priority is delivering programming for all Americans, whether that’s eight consecutive ball drops that will unfold across the country, student competitions or a massive volunteer effort. As for other organizations that have emerged like Freedom 250, 鈥渢he more celebrations, the merrier.鈥�
鈥淲e can’t be all things to all Americans,鈥� Rios said. 鈥淏ut we have something for every American and the more opportunities for everyone to participate in July 4th and beyond, we’re thrilled.鈥�
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