Donald Trump said the United States is heading toward something “no nation has ever seen before” as the country prepares to mark its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.
The president made the remarks on Wednesday evening, June 24, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. The event kicked off a 16-day celebration tied to America’s semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of independence.
Speaking before a crowd gathered near the Washington Monument, Trump outlined an optimistic vision for the year ahead and said the nation was on track for major economic growth.
“We are beginning the most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen,” Trump said.
“This evening, it’s my honor to officially kick off the celebration with the Great American State Fair.
“America’s 250th year is set for an economic boom, the likes of which no nation has ever seen before.”
He also argued that fuel costs in the US would fall as efforts continue to end the conflict involving Iran.
Trump went on to praise the country’s standing across several areas, from defense to culture.
The president continued: “Today we have the largest economy on earth, we have the strongest military on earth, we have the most powerful technology on earth, we have the greatest culture on earth, and above all, we have the greatest people on earth.”
Addressing tensions in Iran and the wider Middle East, he also made a sweeping prediction about the region’s future.
Speaking further of the situation in Iran and the Middle East, Trump said: “For the first time in 3,000 years, we are finally going to have peace in the Middle East.”
The National Mall event marked the public launch of Freedom 250, the White House-backed public-private effort that is coordinating many of the administration’s anniversary plans alongside the congressionally chartered America250 commission. The Great American State Fair is scheduled to run from June 25 through July 10, with state and territory-themed pavilions, performances and other exhibits planned along the Mall.
A number of senior administration figures attended the event, along with other invited guests and supporters of the anniversary effort.
At the same time, the administration is preparing a separate July 4 fireworks celebration at the Washington Monument grounds. Organisers say the display is intended to be a record-setting spectacle, with more than 800,000 fireworks shells planned and a show lasting about 40 minutes.
Washington DC is also expected to host a huge fireworks spectacle on July 4, with 860,000 fireworks planned as part of a production overseen by Freedom 250, Trump’s public-private partnership company.
Organisers are reportedly aiming to surpass the Philippines’ existing record for the biggest fireworks display ever staged, according to USA Today.
“Tonight, as we stand on the edge of our 250th year of independence, I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” the president said.
He then contrasted the current moment with how he described the country’s recent past.
“A short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world, we’re respected by everybody.”
The broader America 250 celebration is expected to continue throughout the summer and into a year of related events, including historical exhibits, public ceremonies, commemorative merchandise and other programming tied to the nation’s founding.