Trump’s Role in America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations Sparks Controversy

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, some details of the celebrations might seem familiar from the 1976 bicentennial. People sip from commemorative cans adorned with the Liberty Bell and a large round number. Vehicles parade or fly with founding documents. Federal funds and private donations pour into politicians’ priorities. A president steers federal funding toward personal projects.

A key difference this time is the prominence of Donald Trump. It wasn’t always this way: Congress established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016, during the Obama administration. In 2020, Trump created the 1776 Commission—an advisory group focused on promoting a sanitized version of American history—which President Biden disbanded on his first day in office in 2021. Trump revived it in 2025, determined to shape the national birthday around his vision, his supporters, and their shared interpretations of the past.

While Richard Nixon leveraged bicentennial funds to bolster political support in the 1970s, Trump is using the semiquincentennial moment to advance his own agenda. He has even attempted to align a semiquincentennial UFC match with his 80th birthday.

Historical Parallels and Broader National Projects

As historian Marc Stein explores in Bicentennial: A Revolutionary History of the 1970s, a national anniversary can spark ambitious, inclusive projects. The bicentennial, too, involved politicians pursuing their goals and a surge in commemorative merchandise. Yet the events and their backlash also fostered broader objectives. Stein highlights urban planners who redirected bicentennial resources to revitalize cities and tourist sites. He also notes the New Left’s efforts to revive the founders’ radical spirit, and marginalized communities advocating for historical reexamination and societal reform.

These groups sometimes aligned on goals despite differing views on the past, or shared ideals of the past while disagreeing on the future.

Democracy, Activism, and the Power of Commemoration

Beyond the Parade of Sails into New York Harbor, the bicentennial symbolized democratic participation and a renewed connection to history. Stein recounts how Gay Raiders leader Mark Segal handcuffed himself to a banister overlooking the Liberty Bell in Independence Hall, and how Black and Indigenous activists protested the mistreatment of their communities. These acts show how commemorating the past can challenge the present and shape the future with depth and urgency.

In a year when many Americans may reject the Trump-infused spectacle of the 250th anniversary, Bicentennial underscores the value of engaging with the milestone and crafting personal meaning from it.

The Official Plans for the 1976 Bicentennial

The 200th birthday celebrations, overseen by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA), featured ambitious construction projects, formal events, and public spectacles. Highlights included the Parade of Sails and the Freedom Train—a 26-car train carrying founding documents across the country.