Trump declares ‘American dream is back’ as nation marks 250th birthday

The United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of its independence with fireworks, military flyovers and patriotic events across the country on Saturday, but the historic milestone was shaped as much by severe weather as by national pride.

In Washington, DC, Donald Trump, United States president, headlined the country’s biggest anniversary event with a campaign style speech on the National Mall after thunderstorms forced a delay of nearly two hours and prompted a temporary evacuation of the area.

Read also: America turns 250 as celebrations meet political tensions, extreme heat

Speaking before a fireworks display that he described as the largest in the world, Trump declared that “the American dream is back” and portrayed the anniversary as the beginning of what he called a new era for the country.

“Long live the cause of independence,” he told supporters. “May it reign forever and ever and ever. We will always be on top. We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.”

He ended his address by saying the celebration marked “only the dawn of the golden age of America” and that the nation’s destiny was “written by God.”

Read also: Aradel executives sell N10.9bn stake amid share price decline

Although the speech praised American achievements, including military victories, the Moon landing and the country’s democratic system, it also carried clear political messages. Trump renewed his call for tighter voting laws, urged Congress to pass legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and limiting mail in ballots, warned about what he described as the threat of communism, and defended his administration’s record at home and abroad.

Critics argued that the president had placed himself at the centre of what was intended to be a national celebration, blurring the line between a historic anniversary and a political rally.

The anniversary marks 250 years since the 13 American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, formally breaking away from British rule. Across the country, cities held parades, concerts, festivals and fireworks displays to commemorate the occasion.

Read also: Anambra records total compliance with statewide cleanup exercise

The celebrations, however, faced repeated disruption from extreme weather. Parts of the East Coast endured temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius, while thunderstorms swept through Washington just hours before the main events.

Visitors attending the Salute to America, the Great American State Fair and the FIFA fan zone on the National Mall were instructed to take shelter as lightning and heavy rain moved through the capital.

After the storm cleared, celebrations resumed with a military flyover featuring the new Air Force One, live music and a fireworks display that lit up the Washington skyline shortly before 1 am.

Elsewhere, dangerous heat forced organisers to cancel or suspend several Independence Day events. The National Park Service cancelled its Independence Day Parade in Washington on Friday, while celebrations in parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Colorado were also affected.

The milestone also prompted reflections from the country’s four living former presidents, who offered messages that focused on unity, democracy and the nation’s unfinished journey.

Joe Biden, former United States president, said the Declaration of Independence established the principle that all people are created equal but stressed that the country’s founding promise remains incomplete.

“We chose that path 250 years ago but that’s where the work began, not where it ended,” Biden said, adding that equality for all remains a continuing responsibility.

Barack Obama, former United States president, echoed a similar message by sharing remarks from a recent speech in which he said, “Every generation must take up the unfinished work of the last and carry it further.”

George W Bush, former United States president, urged Americans to remain engaged in public life, saying, “The next 250 years require Americans to be citizens, not spectators.”

Bill Clinton, former United States president, acknowledged the significance of the anniversary while warning that the country faces serious internal challenges.

“Today, we celebrate this milestone amid another period of deep division, renewed questions about America’s future and role in the world, and serious threats to our own institutions and to our democracy itself,” he said.

The anniversary was designed to celebrate two and a half centuries of American history, but it also highlighted the competing visions that continue to define the country’s politics.

As fireworks illuminated the night sky across the United States, the celebrations reflected both national pride and the deep debates over the country’s direction in the years ahead.