Across the USA, celebrations, fireworks for America's 250th
While people across Palm Beach County on Saturday celebrated our country's 250th birthday, from the 4th on Flagler in West Palm Beach, to the boat race in Lake Worth Beach, to celebrations from Jupiter to the Glades to Boca Raton, there were parties across the nation.
In Washington, DC, President Donald Trump spoke of historic achievements for the country's 250th birthday, ranging from Revolutionary War victories, to the Lewis and Clark expedition across the West to the success in World War II and the exploration of space.
He was occasionally interrupted by chants of "USA, USA." After Trump finished speaking, a fireworks display of 860,000 pyrotechnics billed as the largest in history got underway just before midnight.
Trump's speech and what he has described as a record-breaking fireworks show got underway hours after severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc on Fourth of July celebrations in the Eastern United States.
Some festivities nationwide had been hampered by a record-setting heat wave with triple-digit temperatures in parts of the country, including with heat advisories and warnings. The Independence Day parade in the Washington, DC, was canceled due to heat. Parades, fireworks shows and other events were axed or delayed in several states on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. Still, plenty of people have been braving the weather and uncertainty, turning out for celebrations in major sweltering cities.
Here's a look at celebrations across the United States:
Fireworks cap evening of performances at LA Coliseum
The thunderous sound of fireworks drowned the roar of the thousands of people marking America's 250th birthday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.
At one point, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey played.
The firework display capped an evening of performances that ended with Chris Stapleton, whose "Tennessee Whiskey" might have united the audience more than any other moment during the America's Block Party Benefit Show — the crowd of thousands sang the lyrics loudly and clearly.
Fog greets fireworks at Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Thousands of people lined San Francisco’s shore to witness history, as the city was set to host a fireworks show off the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
Unfortunately, the city’s infamous foggy skies had other plans, as a thick cloud of fog sat over the bridge throughout the day and into the night.
Instead of a captivating burst of fireworks, the Golden Gate Bridge glowed with hues of greens, yellows, reds and more as the fog shielded the display.
However, the show was still a memorable night for many, as the fog provided a unique ethereal image of the bridge.
Regardless, many people leaving Crissy Field could also be heard saying that the show may have been “overhyped.”
In Washington, expectations met for 'greatest fireworks show in history'
Greg Buckless, 43, said it was well worth the wait to see tonight’s massive fireworks show in Washington, DC, honoring the nation's 250th birthday.
“I came here expecting the greatest fireworks show in history and I got it,” he said.
The tech worker from New Hampshire was among the thousands who had evacuated the National Mall earlier Saturday because of rain.
Buckless took shelter in the U.S. Department of Commerce Building for several hours before returning for Trump’s speech and the light show.
“I would do this again,” he said. “It’s incredible.”
As the show ended, people quickly filed out of the National Mall. The fireworks had ended and it began to rain again.
Boston revelry ends in 'Happy Fourth'
After the fireworks ended there was a mass exodus of guests leaving the Esplanade and flooding the streets of downtown Boston. People walked on the blocked-off Storrow Drive to get to Beacon Street in the city's Back Bay neighborhood.
Thousands streamed out of the area, many loading onto MBTA subway and trolley cars. The pops of unsanctioned fireworks from around the city could be heard in the distance.
Despite the on-and-off rain and the muggy weather, the mood in the city was jovial. Shouts of "Happy Fourth" were heard between revelers, and some people ran through the streets.
Smashing Pumpkins play at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum may be celebrating America's 250th birthday, but it's also a celebration of live music — as evident by the reaction to the Smashing Pumpkins' set, which included "1979" and "Cherub Rock."
A portion of the crowd was swift to chant for another song after the group’s final performance of the night, as others gathered to their feet to show the band their appreciation.
It's also a celebration of Los Angeles, if evident by an emcee doing a roll call of which cities in the county are represented in the crowd, from Long Beach to Altadena, Santa Monica and Inglewood. Naturally, the roll call played during "California Love."
Crowd cheers huge fireworks display in Washington, DC
Soon after President Trump wrapped up his speech, a fighter jet flew over the National Mall and what has been billed as the biggest fireworks show in history began.The crowd looked up as the pyrotechnic display colored the sky in shades of red, white and blue.
Cheers broke out at some of the largest bursts of light. Even some of National Guard troops and federal agents could be seen recording the light show on their phones.Most of the crowd packed near the Washington Monument, upon which the words “FREEDOM 250” were displayed.
A band in stage performed “YMCA,” “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Don’t Stop Believin.’”
Trump honors Artemis II astronauts
President Trump honored astronauts from Artemis II who flew around the moon and pledged to send more missions to the lunar surface and to Mars.
The astronauts were joined by Jack Schmitt, the last man to walk on the moon, from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
“They flew further from earth than anyone has ever flown before,” Trump said of the Artemis II crew of Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen.
Trump talks vanquishing fascism, and now communism
After honoring decorated soldiers from America's wars, President Donald Trump hinted at the current surge of democratic socialist victories in recent U.S. elections − and said communism needs to be stopped.
"They saved the world, and they made America very, very proud," Trump said of the veterans from the Marines, Navy and other U.S. services, noting that, "We vanquished fascism."
Now, Trump said, "America will never be a communist country. Communism is a loser, and it always will be."
"Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the world only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America," Trump said. "We're not going to let it happen, we would like to stop a threat like that immediately, and before it begins."
'We can come together' for this anniversary
Sarah Jane, 36, of Virginia, said she didn’t tell some of her friends that she was going to the “Salute to America” event in Washington DC.
She didn’t intend to see President Donald Trump speak, but wanted to see the historic fireworks show.
For the last several years, she spent Independence Day on the National Mall. But since this year’s events were so closely tied to Trump, some of her friends shunned it.
“I don’t agree with most people here but that’s OK,” Jane said. “It’s good to be around people that are different.”
She compared the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations to a relative’s birthday.
“We’re like a dysfunctional family,” she said of her fellow Americans. “But we can come together today for something like this.”
Trump suggests he's serving his third term, not second
President Donald Trump, in listing some of his accomplishments while in office, hinted that he's actually serving his third term, in a reference to his oft-stated claims that he actually won the 2020 election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
"We rebuilt our military in my first term. We use it a little in our — actually I should say third term, but I won't do that, because I don't want any controversy," Trump said to some laughter and applause from the audience.
"And we've had tremendous success," Trump said. "You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran; we wiped it out."
Weather disruption makes DC Fourth of July events 'awful' for some
Cindy Klempel said the weather had turned the Independence Day celebrations in Washington, DC, into an “awful” affair.
She was among the first in line for the Trump-backed “Salute to America” event on the National Mall.
But after several hours in the sun, her 10-year-old grandniece was falling ill. Klempel brought her to a nearby Smithsonian museum, where she drank water and rested in the air conditioning.
When they went back out, ready to see the fireworks, they learned the event had been delayed because of rain and they would need to wait in another long line.
“This hasn’t been a good day for us,” said Klempel, who traveled to DC from Colorado.
Trump honors flags with original 13 stars
President Trump unveiled some of the earliest U.S. flags with 13 stars for the original states, in honor of the July Fourth celebration.
One flag displayed on the stage was from 1777, having flown in the decisive battle at Saratoga, New York. Another was from 1781 in the battle of Yorktown, Virginia, where the British surrendered to end the Revolutionary War.
“These are the real deal,” Trump said.
He later displayed other special flags, including one that covered President Abraham Lincoln's casket, a flag presented to Theodore Roosevelt when he returned from Cuba and one from the USS Arizona that sank in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, at the start of World War II.
“It’s a symbol of American defiance,” Trump said.
Trump says 150,000 'special people' in crowd
Trump told the crowd he wouldn't let the rain stop him from speaking on the 250th anniversary Independence Day, if it meant talking to one person at 4 a.m.
He said the crowd estimated at 375,000 before an evacuation for lightning storms and 150,000 came back for the speech.
“You’re very special people and we have a very special country," Trump said.
Macy’s fireworks dazzles New York City skyline; fire on Brooklyn Bridge
Fireworks on New York City’s East and Hudson rivers dazzled the metropolitan skyline as a fire briefly broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The 50th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show started earlier than scheduled amid severe thunderstorm watch warnings by the National Weather Service.
The viewing of the show took place from the Brooklyn Bridge, but fireworks could be seen across the city. During the show, viewers said they saw a fire break out atop the Brooklyn Bridge. Video showed flames and smoke from the historic 19th-century bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
In an email, the New York City Fire Department said the agency received a call at 9:40 p.m. with a reported “rubbish fire” on the bridge. Firefighters used two engines to extinguish the fire, FDNY said, adding fires such as this aren’t unexpected and that’s why the agency maintains standoff distance during a fireworks show. New York City police referred questions to FDNY.
Outside of official events, the police department earlier warned residents that fireworks are illegal.
“Every year, illegal fireworks cause fires, serious injuries, and even death,” an NYPD social media post said. “As you celebrate July 4th, leave the fireworks to the professionals.”
Cabinet officials join Trump for speech
Cabinet officials joined President Donald Trump for the speech, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could be seen speaking with Trump.
America's Block Party in Los Angeles
The performances at America’s Block Party Benefit Show at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum are underway, with Grammy winner Chaka Khan performing under a sun that’s beginning to set on a milestone Fourth of July.
Earlier, country-pop artist Maren Morris sang a short set, and “Hamilton” and “Twisters” star Anthony Ramos performed the national anthem to the thousands of people who gathered at the venue — a crowd filled with folks decked out in red, white and blue.
For hours leading up to the performances, eventgoers stood in line for food and drinks (including bacon-wrapped hotdogs, bags of kettle corn and lemonade) and to pose for photos against an America 250 backdrop.
For Veronica Villa — who had her photo taken — the Fourth of July means being thankful to live in California specifically.
“There are so many opportunities,” said Villa, who is from Pasadena. “There is so much diversity.”
Rain, confetti and fireworks fill the air in Boston
Drops of rain began to fall sporadically in Boston as the fireworks began to erupt over the Charles River shortly after 10:15 p.m. Crowds stood still, looking up at the explosive display. The Boston Pops played tunes including "Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys.
'We weren’t missing this': Excitement as celebrations resume in Boston
Sandra Johnson-Jacobs, 70, of Gilbert, Arizona, sat in a beach chair on the grass at the Esplanade in Boston after the rain had stopped falling and the sun had set.
She said she had planned her trip to Boston a year ahead of time, so there was “no way” she was leaving due to a passing storm. She was sitting next to some of her family members from Vermont.
“I wanted someplace special for the 250th and I wanted to get my family together, so, the evacuation added a little excitement to it,” Johnson-Jacobs said. “I felt the water running over my shoes, but I just said, ‘Oh, that’s okay.’ And then I got to come back and watch all this fabulous stuff.”
She was sitting with her son Ryan Johnson, 38, of Milton, Vermont, and 12-year-old grandson Ewan Eichelberger, among other relatives.
Johnson said the family was prepared to stay outside for the remainder of the evening.
“We weren’t missing this. You’re not gonna be around for the next 250th so you might as well tough it out. And we came prepared anyway to go through the storm, got all of our bags and stuff,” Johnson said.
Eichelberger, despite the rain evacuation, was in good spirits.
“Today was just absolutely stunning. I loved it. When the rain was coming, we had to all go in this tunnel, but since the tunnel was filled up with people, we had to stand outside,” Eichelberger said. “I was in my flip flops, and water was just pouring all over my feet. And I was just like, ‘Yep, this is Boston.’”
He said he kept his new stuffed lobster close to his chest when attendees were forced to evacuate.
Long waits won't stop Navy veteran from seeing Trump, fireworks show
A long wait isn’t going to stop Kathy Mandakunis and her family from seeing President Donald Trump and a massive July 4 fireworks show.
“Where are we going? We’ve got no place to be,” Mandakunis, 54, said as she, her husband and their two kids sat on a set of stairs in the basement of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., waiting for news about the delayed celebration.
The family had traveled from Salem, Massachusetts, for the event. Much of their day had been spent standing in line, but the military flyovers “broke up the monotony,” said Mandakunis, a Navy veteran.
“Those were so well orchestrated,” she said. “We had a good time, even if it was a little hot.”
Nashville's Fourth of July celebration brings out the stars
Nashville is living true to its name as the country's "Music City" with Fourth of July celebrations spanning generations and genres.
The "Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th" celebrations in downtown Nashville come with a star-studded musical lineup on multiple stages.
Beginning in the afternoon and continuing at night, The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Lauren Daigle, NE-YO, Nick Jonas and Sublime are all set to perform. The performances are being broadcast live as a Disney TV special, culminating with what city officials said is the largest fireworks and drone show in Nashville's history.
Mass. governor kicks off Boston Pops: 'I'm so proud of our state'
Actor and comedian Jane Lynch took the stage at the Hatch Shell, kicking off the Boston Pops’ performance at the muddy Esplanade.
She introduced Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who expressed her love of the state – one of the original 13 colonies.
“I'm so proud of our state, from our oceans and Cape Cod, to our mountains across the state, to the Berkshires. This is a state where people do a lot and have done a lot,” Healey said. “They create stuff, they make stuff. We invented the computer, we invented the telephone, first cancer treatments. We invented things like universal access to healthcare and marriage equality. We invented the chocolate chip cookie and fried clams. You can’t beat that.”
Other onstage guests included Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and musical artists Chance the Rapper, Trombone Shorty and Lainey Wilson.
Many attendees sat on wet grass, while others stayed standing for the remainder of the show. Food trucks reopened after the storm and long lines snaked around the vendor area. Ice cream seemed to be the favorite of the night.
150 become new US citizens in ceremony at Mount Vernon
America's 250th birthday marked a milestone for 150 new U.S. citizens who took the oath of allegiance during an annual naturalization ceremony at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate in Virginia.
Despite record-breaking heat, hundreds of family members and supporters gathered to celebrate as immigrants from around the world officially became Americans, with many describing the ceremony as a powerful reminder of the opportunities and freedoms that drew them to the United States.
Smita Sharma, who helped her mom study for the naturalization exam, expressed both excitement and disbelief.
"My upbringing is way different from my parents," Smita said. "My mom grew up in Nepal and walked to school and came from I can't even imagine where to now. This is a part of her story and I'm sure it's something she also can't imagine happening."
‘How nice is independence?’ asks Brazilian driver traveling US
During the World Cup and the United States’ Independence Day, Alex Lima went on a detour from his yearlong, continental trek in his white 1996 Fiat Uno, which has Brazil license plates. The 50-year-old Brazilian parked his small two-door car at 47th and Broadway, in New York City’s Times Square, while he hosted a livestream for his nearly 113,000 TikTok followers.
On May 23, 2025, Lima left his native Goiânia, a large city in central Brazil, after a divorce. Leaving behind his money, including his construction company, Lima drove his Fiat to the southern tip of South America before passing a dozen countries en route to his final destination, Alaska.
“I'm gonna live a simple life on the road,” Lima told USA TODAY, standing outside his Fiat, which he sleeps inside and which has StarLink internet connection. He even takes showers with PVC pipes holding water from the top of the car. “That's what I did.”
But Lima made a massive detour, first through Texas for a Brazil game, before eventually getting to New York, where scores of Brazil fans have spread across the city in trademark yellow-and-green jerseys during the World Cup. He has plans to follow the Brazilian team as they continue their World Cup path. He hopes to return back to MetLife Stadium, known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament, when it hosts the World Cup final on July 19.
On the congested Manhattan street, he hadn’t received a ticket while parked. However, he did answer lots of questions, mostly from fellow Brazilian tourists but also from curious Americans.
“How nice is independence, right?” he said. “It’s a very strong nation.”
Philadelphia visitor center offers cool break, free cupcakes
Outside in the sweltering heat wasn’t the only place for visitors in Philly to celebrate the 250th birthday of democracy.Inside the Independence Visitor Center, people took advantage of free cupcakes (aligned into a sweet, dwindling American flag), the gift shop and, of course, AC.But as the clock ticked toward 5 p.m., guests were reminded that despite the center’s closing, there was more fun to be had: The One Philly Unity Concert for America would be starting any minute on the parkway.
Flyovers fill Washington, DC skies for revelers
Dozens of military aircraft – some historic, others brand new – took to the skies over Washington, D.C., on the Fourth of July during a seven-hour airshow over the National Mall.
Aircraft from every branch of the military minus the Space Force were included in the flyovers, which began just after 1 p.m. Saturday and will continue every 10 to 15 minutes through 8:22 p.m. One more flyover will begin at 10:36 p.m., just as a 40-minute fireworks show is set to start in the nation’s capital.
Although the exact number of planes was unspecified by Freedom 250, President Donald Trump previously said on Truth Social that the day would feature “hundreds of planes, of different types, sizes, and speeds.”
They included stealth bombers, F-5s, fighter jets and the newly renovated Air Force One. The U.S. Army Golden Knights and U.S. Navy Leap Frogs joined the demonstrations, with their parachute teams jumping over the National Mall.
At 5 p.m., the iconic U.S. Navy Blue Angels joined the lineup. Other flyovers later in the day will include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and their F-22 Raptors.
Navy vet says there's 'no division' at Great American State Fair
Curtis Evelyn, 80, said he’s “never felt more patriotic in his life” than he had Saturday in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Navy veteran and his daughter, 55-year-old Shanell Kirton, braved the heat and spent the day at the Great American State Fair, saluting fellow veterans as they strolled through the state-themed pavilions on the National Mall.
The two are naturalized citizens from Barbados. Kirton traveled to D.C. from Atlanta, where she works as a real estate developer, and Evelyn flew up from Jacksonville, Florida.
Being in the capital for America’s 250th anniversary is a “privilege and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Evelyn said, adding that the celebration hasn’t felt political or divisive.
“There’s no division today,” said Kirton, wearing a red, white and blue cowboy hat. “Everyone is here for one purpose – to celebrate this great country.”
Zelenskyy congratulates America on independence
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he called President Donald Trump to congratulate all Americans on Independence Day.
Zelenskyy said there is “a real prospect” to end the war between Ukraine and Russia that began in February 2022 and that “America’s resolve is decisive.” He said talks would continue next week at a NATO summit in Turkey.
“We’ve had a very good phone call,” Zelenskyy said on social media. “We are grateful to the United States for all the assistance we have received – from Javelins and Patriots to political support – and we deeply value that America stands by us in defending our independence.”
Times Square beats with live bands, proud U.S. soccer fans
Times Square was beating with blaring horns as military bands performed onstage in the middle of the New York City tourist destination to celebrate Independence Day.
In the backdrop, the myriad flashing billboards changed from digital American flags to advertisements for Netflix, American Eagle and the latest Broadway shows, among others. And with World Cup matches ongoing, tourists roamed about wearing Morocco, Norway and Ghana jerseys, sometimes taking pictures with one another.
Juan Hadi, a 23-year-old bartender living in Harlem, wore a retro U.S. men’s national team jersey – the only red, white and blue clothes he owned – as he showed his father around Times Square for about three hours, taking in music and street performers before they'd bar hop in Harlem and then watch the fireworks.
Even if Hadi didn’t agree with the current Trump administration, he said he still felt patriotic.
“I think we have a long way to go, but we're slowly getting there,” he said. “It's taking a lot longer than it should have, but it’s happening.”
One thing that made him even more proud was the American soccer team, currently set to play July 6 in the World Cup’s Round of 16. Hadi said the team was electric, and the soccer tournament set in the United States was creating a new culture for the country. In contrast to his friends from around the world calling it football, Hadi said, “It’s soccer.”
'Bucket list stuff' in DC for the 250th
After strolling through the Great American State Fair, Bob Bearden and Wendy Thrower took refuge from the hot sun under a shady tree blocks from the National Mall.
There, the couple – wearing matching American flag shirts – ate ice cream and watched military planes fly overhead.
“This is bucket list stuff,” said Thrower, 58.
In 1976, when she was 8 years old, she said she traveled with her mother, father and brother to Washington, D.C., for the country’s bicentennial. Coming for the 250th anniversary was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. The only complaint she had so far was the heat.
By 3:30 p.m., the high had reached 100 degrees.
“Even for a Florida girl, this is hot,” she said as she wiped sweat off her forehead.
Ex-President Bill Clinton criticizes 'the people in charge'
Former President Bill Clinton had some salty words for President Donald Trump in a July 4th message without mentioning him by name, saying “the people in charge” of the United States now have “come close to the edge” of potentially destroying its experiment in democracy.
Since the nation’s founding 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Clinton said in a letter issued by the Clinton Foundation, “our government of, by, and for the people has become the longest-lasting continuous democracy in the history of the world.”
But there are now “serious threats to our own institutions and to our democracy itself,” Clinton wrote, as “the people in charge have unleashed masked agents on American communities … started an unconstitutional war on a whim … (and) have weaponized government to settle personal scores, prosecute enemies, stamp out free speech, and made the federal government a new profit center for themselves and their allies.”
Saying the Founding Fathers always knew American democracy would be a work in progress, Clinton urged citizens to be self-reflective enough “to acknowledge our flaws and missteps – and then bold enough to leave them behind for brighter tomorrows.”
People sing 'Happy Birthday' in Philadelphia
There was no cake in sight, but that didn't stop a crowd gathered outside of Philadelphia's Independence Hall from singing "Happy Birthday" to the nation.
A man wearing a National Park Service uniform led a line of people, decked out in red, white and blue apparel and staying cool in the shade, in song Saturday morning.
Independence Hall is central to America's history: It's where the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence. The country's founding fathers also signed the U.S. Constitution in the building, setting the framework for the nation's government centuries ago.
Americans travel from across US to visit Washington, DC
Americans from every corner of the country have gathered in Washington, DC to commemorate 250 years of the United States.
Brody Harris and Nico Peterson, from Northern California, said they made their plans at least six months ago to be in DC for Fourth of July weekend.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so we wanted to celebrate the 250th in what we thought would be the best place to do it,” Peterson said while at the Great American State Fair.
Harris said they have taken in the sites in while in DC, including going to multiple museums, but they’re most excited for the night’s festivities and fireworks show President Donald Trump said would be the largest in history.
“Trump said he’s going to throw a party so we’re looking forward to it,” he said.
Donald Rasdall and Betsy Green, an engaged couple from Orlando, Florida, pick a different city to visit for each Fourth of July. They, like Peterson and Harris, thought DC would be the perfect destination for America’s 250th birthday. They both commented on the positivity shown from everyone in DC, including people looking out for one another by passing out water while in the line to enter the fair.
“Everybody is the same today. Everybody is an American, everybody is full of freedom and really honoring our country,” Green said.
Rasdall agreed, saying he is proud to be an American and thrilled to be in DC for the weekend’s events.
"Anywhere in the world, if someone needs help we step up,” Rasdall said. “When bad things unfortunately happen here - whether it be a flood, fire, earthquake - everyone steps up. It really is a great country.”
King Charles congratulates Trump, Americans on anniversary
King Charles III wrote a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Americans on the 250th anniversary of America's founding, reflecting on the "evolution" of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States "from overcoming conflict to forging one of the closest and most productive alliances the world has seen."
Charles congratulated the United States on its anniversary.
"Together, we face the challenges of today, and the opportunities of tomorrow," he said. "As we look ahead to the next 250 years, I have no doubt we will continue to defend our shared values."
Couple travel from LA to DC for July 4: 'Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else'
Paul Ramirez and his husband, Richard Quirk, traveled from Los Angeles to attend America 250 festivities in Washington, DC, and wore matching American flag overalls to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial.
Ramirez, a 2024 Republican National Convention delegate, previously attended both inaugurations of President Donald Trump with his husband and said “it was very important to be here for the Fourth.”
“I just want to thank President Trump for this amazing birthday party and tribute,” Ramirez said. “This is our second one. We were both in grade school for the bicentennial in ‘76. Now we get to celebrate this in 2026. I don’t think I’ll be around for the 300th, but it’s great to be able to celebrate.”
He said he’s most excited for the night’s fireworks, joking that even people in Alaska will be able to see the show, which Trump promised will be the largest fireworks display in history.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else for the Fourth of July,” Quirk added.
JD Vance rejects 'two-dimensional' views on America's birthday
Speaking at the Sail4th 250 Parade of Tall Ships in New York Harbor on Saturday, Vice President JD Vance spoke of the history of the country's founding, touted its success, but urged Americans to reject views that focus on the country's darker moments.
Vance read the opening of the Declaration of Independence and said that even 250 years later, the words "command a tremendous power over us as Americans," reminding us of who we are. He said the country being formed by a "conviction that we are bound to one another... by a common character, a shared faith and a shared future." He urged Americans to ignore and reject detractors.
"You will hear a couple small but loud voices today speak obsessively, not of our national greatness but of our national imperfections. They will speak of the powerless and the dispossessed ... If they acknowlege there is anything to be proud of our history, they'll say it's the fact that sometimes the powerless have won," Vance said. "They're wrong."
"They'll talk about America's sins with the anger and zeal of a brimstone preacher but without any of the grace or forgiveness that must be present in the Christian faith," he said. "So what I'd ask you to do, my fellow Americans, on our 250th birthday, is to reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens and reject the two-dimensional view of your country."
What it means to sew the American flag
Inside a cavernous warehouse in South Boston, Virginia, thin strips of red and white cotton cascade over nearly every surface. The strips are piled high in plastic bins, sprawled over tables and fed underneath bobbing needles. The whirr of dozens of sewing machines working at once fills the stark, concrete room.
Here at this 200,000-square-foot factory, seamstresses work eight and sometimes 12 hours a day weaving together the American flag.
Their company, Annin Flagmakers, bills itself as the oldest and largest manufacturer of the star-spangled banner in the United States. It is one of few companies still making the flag in America.
Since the company's founding in 1847, Annin flags have marked the country’s highest highs and lowest lows. Its flags hung at President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration and draped his casket. They flew atop Mount Suribachi after the Battle of Iwo Jima and rocketed to the moon aboard Apollo 11.
New York City ball drops 8 times for America's 250th
The iconic Times Square ball in New York City made a special appearance for eight drops from July 3 to July 4 to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary.
The drops were the first time in the ball's history not to happen on New Year's Eve, according to event organizers.
It dropped once in each time zone across the states and territories, with the first drop at 9:45 a.m. ET on July 3 for the Chamorro Time Zone that includes Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the last drop was at 6:45 a.m. ET for American Samoa on July 4.
Locals, visitors celebrate Fourth of July in New York City
In New York City, celebrators had a plethora of events to choose from to mark the United States' 250th anniversary of its independence.
Elver and Vanessa Radke visited New York City from Connecticut to celebrate. The two stood, holding onto a light pole in Battery Park to get a better view of the Tall Ships parade with planes flying overhead.
“We’re here to celebrate the 250 year anniversary and everything that comes with it — freedom and liberty," Elver Radke said.
At the Castle Clinton National Monument, attendees swarmed for a flag raising ceremony which will be followed by an annual Independence Day parade.
Lorraine Bell, a member of the Knickerbocker chapter for Daughters of the American Revolution, was decked out in patriotic pins for the occasion. She was keeping cool with an electric neck fan, and carried frozen water in her bag to beat the heat.
It’s “important to be out here demonstrating that the United States is still alive and well,” she told USA TODAY, adding that the country “still a work in progress.”
Pope Leo urges acceptance of immigrants for nation's birthday
Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, wrote a letter marking the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his home nation's founding, urging Americans to reflect on their responsibilities to one another and to future generations. He highlighted the principles of religious freedom and the dignity of every human life.
"In this spirit, a full understanding of this dignity leads to recognizing the importance of safeguarding human life from its beginning at conception until natural death, and of building a society in which the vulnerable, the suffering and the forgotten are always met with compassion, solidarity and love," Leo wrote.
He also applied that value to immigrants.
"Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning," he wrote.
'A gift to our future.' Time capsule buried, to be opened in 2276
PHILADELPHIA — The time capsule has been buried, not to be opened until 2276.
“That sounds weird,” remarked Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. “Doesn’t that sound weird?”
The crowd gathered just outside Independence Hall chuckled, and it did indeed feel odd to think about people 250 years from now opening the capsule.
But, as several speakers Saturday morning said, the time capsule is just as much a reflection of who we are and what we value today as it is an expression of optimism for the future, that, as Benjamin Franklin was said to have remarked after the signing of the Constitution, “A republic, if you can keep it,” that in 2025 Americans believed firmly that the nation would endure for another 250 years.
As a bald eagle named Indy occasionally screeched at an offending hawk that flew overheard, speakers talked about the time capsule as a message to future generations about Americans’ hopes, values and lives in 2025.
“Unlike any other burial this one is about hope,” Parker said. “It’s about possibility.”
The capsule is “more than a collection of artifacts,” she continued, “it’s a message from one generation to the next about who we were, what we value and what we thought was worth preserving.”
Tom Caramanico, executive director of the Independence Historical Trust, said the placement of the capsule was deliberate, as a new sculpture by artist John Collins would be placed atop the tract: a representation of Franklin’s famous “Join Or Die” cartoon that urged the separate colonies to unite.
“This is a gift to our future,” Reginald Brown of America250 said. “We are not just custodians of the past; we are stewards of the future.”