America 250

Friday

Matt McDonald

Who can save America’s 250th birthday?

"They’re taking that down,” says Keith Krach when I ask if the White House’s UFC stage will still be up on July 4, as Donald Trump had suggested. “I think they’re disassembling it right now.” Krach is chief executive of Freedom 250 and responsible for planning events to mark America’s 250th birthday. Well, partially responsible. The story of America’s birthday party is a complicated one, involving multiple “bipartisan” planning organizations with similar names, canceled acts and branding disputes. Ten years ago, Congress set up the United States Semiquincentennial Commission to plan for the 250th. George W. Bush, Barack Obama and their spouses have honorary leadership positions. Joe Biden appointed Rosie Rios, a former US treasurer, to chair the commission.

america 250th

Thursday

Sabrina Philip

Trump’s ‘greatest’ rally ever

Freedom 250’s “Great American State Fair” opened on the National Mall yesterday – just not with a concert, as initially planned. Instead, Donald Trump gave a half-hour speech, telling the crowd, “We have the greatest people on earth,” as fighter jets and B-2 bombers flew overhead. There was a lot of talk of “the greatest” from the President’s warm-up acts. The greatest firework celebration, the greatest state fair, the greatest kickoff, the greatest president, the greatest country. Speaker after speaker drummed that word into the heads of the few thousand-strong crowd. Trump danced his way off stage and the crowd stood up cheering Musicians sang about pride in the country and a commitment to God. With the Marine Corps band present on stage from 7 p.m.

Friday

Cockburn

Can you put on a ‘nonpartisan’ concert in Trump’s Washington?

Cockburn steeled himself Wednesday after a press release from the Trump administration’s “Freedom 250” plopped into his inbox. The missive promised a line-up of “Star-Studded Entertainment” for the Great American State Fair, set to take place on the National Mall for three weeks over the nation’s semiquincentennial. Nine “music icons” would perform for free, including the Commodores, Flo Rida and a smattering of one-hit wonders. Two days later and the schedule is in tatters: eight of the nine acts have withdrawn following fan backlash, with critics branding the event “DC’s very own Fyre Fest.” Only Flo Rida remains.

concert washington

Wednesday

Robert Hardman

King Charles will make a splash at US-250

If only work had started sooner on the new extension to the East Wing of the White House. Then President Donald Trump might be able to inaugurate it with a party for the man who owns arguably the grandest ballroom in the world (one Mr. Trump knows well). Discussions are ongoing for a state visit to the US by King Charles III and Queen Camilla next year. President Trump has now logged an unprecedented two state visits in an easterly direction and common courtesy dictates a return invitation for the Windsors to pay a visit to the White House. Next year is the obvious date. It will be 250 years since the US came into being by extracting the colonies from the rule of the King’s fifth great-grandfather, George III.

king charles iii