Trump launches massive ‘Freedom 250’ push to ignite America’s 250th birthday celebration
Trump previews 'Freedom 250' campaign for US anniversary celebration
President Donald Trump announced a series of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. next year in a video shared to social media Thursday, saying, "We're going to have a good time."
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is kicking off America’s monthslong birthday bash celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country's founding with a new nonpartisan organization dubbed Freedom 250 that will lead the administration's celebrations, Fox Digital learned.
The year "2026 will mark a celebration of America unlike anything we have ever done, and I am grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to execute his vision for Freedom 250," Keith Krach, former undersecretary of state under the first Trump administration, who was named CEO of Freedom 250, said in a press release of the new organization.
"By working alongside states, businesses, and organizations across the country, Freedom 250 will reignite the pioneering spirit that defines America to strengthen the foundation for the next 250 years of independence, opportunity, and freedom."
Freedom 250 is a new public-private partnership to unveil patriotic events nationwide in honor of America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. (Alex Brandon - Pool/Getty Images)
The new initiative brings together states, companies and organizations to plan and participate in events celebrating the nation's 250th birthday "by mobilizing partners and communities in all 50 states and around the world," Fox News Digital learned. It will work in coordination with the White House Task Force 250, federal departments, and the America250 Commission to plan and deliver on the events nationwide.
"This means so much to him personally, as it does to every single American," Ambassador Monica Crowley told "Fox & Friends" on Thursday. She likened the commemoration to America's bicentennial, saying that the organizers of America 250 were looking to recapture the feeling of the 1976 celebration.
"Some of us might remember 1976 and the bicentennial. We may not remember the details of every bit of that, but we remember how we felt," she said. "And so, what we are planning with Freedom 250 is this massive monumental celebration that President Trump promised back in his first term, a celebration that really creates that feeling of a renewal of pride and patriotism."
President Donald Trump is seen here at the America250 rally in Des Moines, Iowa. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Trump shared a video message on Thursday morning announcing the initiative, as well as previewing a handful of high-profile events celebrating the milestone.
"To help carry out these exciting plans, we have created a new public-private partnership. It's called Freedom 250. Working with states, companies, and organizations across the country, we will renew the patriotism, pride, and pioneering spirit of America and lay the groundwork for the next 250 years of independence and freedom. This will be a time like you've never had in your lives, America 250. Thank you, I love you all," he said in the video message.
Trump touted that Americans will "never see anything like it, and you'll ever see anything like it again" of the line-up of events.
"As we ring in 2026, Americans across the nation will see the iconic Washington Monument illuminated with festive birthday lights to honor the start of this historic anniversary year. Then from June 25th to July 10th of next year, we will host the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, highlighting breathtaking innovations and celebrating America's exceptional history and culture," Trump said.
The line-up will include the first "Patriot Games," Trump said, which is a four-day athletic event "featuring the greatest high school athletes, one young man and one young woman from each state and territory." The games will be held in the fall, according to the president.
"But I promise there will be no men playing in women's sports. You're not gonna see that. You'll see everything but that," he quipped.
"Celebrating the Triumph of the American Spirit," Freedom 250's website, launched on Thursday morning, declares of the group's focus.
The website touting the year of celebrations includes engaging Americans with videos crafted in part by Hillsdale College, which tell "the remarkable story of American independence."
The site’s calendar is packed with patriotic events, including an ongoing freedom tour hitting all 50 states in the order they joined the union. The tour features Cabinet officials and local and state leaders visiting schools to highlight America’s history.
The events will kick off with the Washington Monument illuminated from Dec. 31 through Jan. 5 that will mark "the start of this once-in-a-generation anniversary year."
Trump has been eyeing the 250th birthday for years and pledged on the 2024 campaign trail to celebrate it in grand fashion.
"The president promised in his first term, and going into this term, even as a candidate, the most monumental celebration of America for our big 250th birthday, and through Freedom 250 and so many other elements, he is delivering on these promises," Crowley told "Fox & Friends."
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"As a nation, we should be preparing for the most spectacular birthday party. We want to make it the best of all time," Trump said in a 2023 campaign video.
The new website also offers "toolkits" showing Americans how to mark the milestone in their own communities, including a toolkit for teachers, one for state fairs and another tailored to rodeos.
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Another section highlights America’s natural beauty, 250 years of innovation and how many Americans say the nation’s fabric has been woven with prayer and faith.
The nation already has held a series of events tied to the 250th milestone, including a June 14 military parade Trump hosted in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. Tanks rolled through the streets, military jets roared overhead and fireworks lit up the National Mall.
The parade fell on Flag Day, which also marked Trump’s 79th birthday.
Among the lengthy list of upcoming events celebrating the anniversary is the highly anticipated White House UFC fight, which first daughter Ivanka Trump is helping facilitate, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Trump revealed in his video message on Thursday that the UFC fight will be held on Flag Day, June 14.
"And on Flag Day, We will have a one-of-a-kind UFC event here at the White House. It'll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it's gonna be something special. But all of this is just the beginning," Trump said.
Rosie Rios, chair of America250, added that the "creation of Freedom 250 will be instrumental in providing Task Force 250 with a clear funding mechanism to advance its Presidential initiatives."
"As the national organization charged by Congress to represent all three branches of government in planning the nation’s 250th anniversary, America250’s goal is to engage all 350 million Americans ("350 for 250")," Rios said. "America250 will continue to focus on the values-based programming approved by our bipartisan Commission at the local, state, national and international levels, including once-in-a-lifetime celebratory moments during the 4th of July weekend. We remain committed to our continued collaboration with Task Force 250 to ensure that all Americans nationwide have ample opportunities to join in the celebration."
In 2025 alone, Trump created a White House Task Force 250 by executive order, revived his 1776 Commission as a patriotic-education partner, and signed the massive "big beautiful bill" that steers tens of millions into initiatives focused on the birthday.