Attending Trump's July 4 bash? What DC mayor says families should expect
Mayor Muriel Bowser, asked by USA TODAY if late fireworks are family friendly, says she expects those with small kids will instead "watch on TV."
Josh MeyerWASHINGTON – Planning to bring the kids to President Donald Trump's giant July 4 Freedom 250 celebration on the National Mall? Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser expects that given the size and scope of it, many families with young children may decide to stay home and watch from their couch or a local neighborhood spot.
At a security and planning briefing June 29, Bowser and other local and federal officials painted a picture of what visitors should expect. The event is billed as a family-friendly celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial birthday but it will feature tight security and start times for fireworks far later than a typical July 4 celebration.
That includes airport-style security screenings to get into the restricted viewing area where 150,000 people are expected, only one clear bag or “small clutch purse” allowed per person, major street and bridge closures, scorching and potentially record-breaking temperatures – and fireworks that won't start until 11 p.m.
That’s usually when July 4th fireworks watchers are already back home. But with what Trump is billing as a record-breaking 45-minute pyrotechnics show, it will likely mean a late night for those leaving the celebration.
When asked by USA TODAY what she would say to parents wondering whether that's a lot to ask of families with young children, Bowser first referred a reporter to Freedom 250, the Trump-affiliated group in charge of the July 4th event and other major 250th birthday celebrations.
Then she answered it anyway.
“And so the thing to remember, especially with this heat, is that's a long, long day. So people have to really watch the heat, watch what they're drinking and get home as soon as the fireworks are over,” Bowser told reporters. “I'm expecting – and again, I would refer to the 250 folks – that families with small children are going to decide that the children should watch on TV. Or watch at a neighborhood event.
“Or if they're really brave..." she said, trailing off before moving on.
Freedom 250 organizers and the White House did not have immediate comment in response to USA TODAY questions.
July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
'The most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen'
Freedom 250 is a public-private partnership created by the Trump White House to coordinate celebrations of the U.S. 250th anniversary alongside federal agencies.
The celebration has faced criticism that Trump and his allies have transformed what was intended to be a bipartisan and non-political commemoration of America’s 250th – led by a group established by Congress – into a politically branded event closely aligned with the president.
In recent weeks, Trump and his supporters have been touting the series of events, including a “Great American State Fair” and a fireworks display they hope to get a Guinness World Record – as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Americans.
Trump launched the 16-day celebration of the country's 250th birthday with a rally-style speech the night of June 24 after numerous musical performers who had been scheduled to appear dropped out, citing concerns about the event’s partisan tone.
“Tonight right here on the National Mall, we are beginning the most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen,” Trump said in his 28-minute kick-off address.
“Then on July 4th, we will have the greatest show of all on the National Mall,” Trump said later in the speech. “Your favorite president will be speaking.”
The fair opened the next morning and faced early problems including sparse crowds, power outages, melting ice cream – and a lack of representation from states that declined to send delegations, some also in part due to the partisan nature of the event.
No 'credible threats' to July 4 event - but unprecedented security
At the June 29 security briefing, DC and federal officials went over planning and security arrangements for the event, which has been designated a “national special security event,” which means the Department of Homeland Security has identified it as a “potential target for terrorism or other criminal activity.”
Such designations are typically invoked for major events like presidential inaugurations or summits of world leaders and trigger a massive federal security response. The other Trump-backed Freedom 250 events, including the June 24 rally, are top priorities for federal law enforcement agencies but did not receive the extra designation.
Security will be intense at the event, officials from the FBI and Secret Service noted, especially given the plot to attack an event earlier in June featuring UFC fighting matches on the White House lawn attended by Trump and other government leaders and dignitaries.
Prosecutors say the UFC plot suspects planned to use drones and multiple gunmen to kill top officials at the event. On Monday, senior FBI official Darren Cox, told reporters that threat has been neutralized, and that the bureau is “not tracking any credible threats” to the 250th anniversary events.
But Cox and other officials warned anyone contemplating attending the fireworks festivities not to bring drones – or face arrest and a $100,000 fine.
Tara McLeese, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, said at the security briefing that hundreds of agents and officers will be on hand, working with local police, to neutralize any potential threat.
“Our goal is very simple for every resident and visitor to enjoy the celebration of America's 250th birthday, knowing that thousands of professionals have spent months preparing to keep them safe,” said Cox, an assistant FBI director who is in charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office.
Clint Osborn, director of the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said the July 4 events will be unprecedented in their size and the scope of the security preparations.
“Be ready for an increased security presence, crowds and road closures,” Osborn said, adding that officials are tracking a multi-day heat wave expected from the 1st to the 4th of July that could rise into the triple digits and “may break records this week.”
“And as the mayor likes to say, ‘Pack your patience,’" Osborn said.