Trump is the frontman for his own party as rival groups vie to shape America's 250th anniversary

U.S. President Donald Trump is positioning himself as the central figure as competing groups shape America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, amid broader political divisions. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is hosting exhibits under “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness,” featuring artifacts ranging from a Revolutionary War-era gunboat to a 1970 Earth Day flag, highlighting that the nation’s conflicts predate Trump. As anniversaries intensify, the White House-aligned organization Freedom 250 is competing with America 250, a bipartisan group created by Congress a decade ago, underscoring that even milestones can become flashpoints. Preparations for “The Great American State Fair” on the National Mall show fallout as artists including Martina McBride reportedly backed out over the event’s political tone, while Trump is scheduled to speak Wednesday. On July Fourth, America 250 plans a Los Angeles concert hosted by Queen Latifah, with Trump returning to the National Mall for what he described as a “Trump rally.”