Republicans seethe as Trump’s takeover of America 250 dashes hopes for midterm win
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U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, UFC CEO Dana White and other guests Washington, D.C., U.S., June 15, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci/Pool
The America 250 events were supposed to bring the country together, and Republicans were counting on it being a layup ahead of the last push before the midterm elections. It isn't working out that way, however.
NOTUS reported on Monday that President Donald Trump's takeover of the events has been a disaster as he turned them from non-partisan pro-America events into MAGA spectacles.
After the majority of the performers for his concert pulled out, Trump hosted a small political rally with only a few people willing to perform. The "Good Liars" calculated that about 1,000 people showed up for the event.
The so-called "state fair" in the District of Columbia has been about as sparsely attended, and another concert was canceled after Vanilla Ice claimed "inclement weather in the area" inspired him to pull out at the last minute.
The fair has gotten rough reviews, with an overpriced food court offering $25 pretzels, melted ice cream and empty booths inside the pavilion. At one point, a MAGA influencer dressed as Uncle Sam was arrested for lewd behavior.
“I think that’s sad,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told NOTUS when speaking about the 250 flop.
“If the celebration of the miracle of democracy that comes from the founding of this nation becomes partisan, shame on us,” commented Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
As one Democrat explained, the president simply can't have an event that isn't about him.
“He can’t help himself — especially with things that don’t involve him, don’t praise him, don’t highlight him — President Trump couldn’t help but try making America’s 250th birthday all about himself,” Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Ca.) blasted during a Senate hearing last week.
Padilla has also complained that taxpayer dollars are being wasted for another Trump vanity project.
“Which donors have supported those efforts, let alone what requests might have been made alongside those contributions? How much of this has been pay-to-play or quid pro quo?” Padilla asked.
For those alive during the 200th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. it was such a huge event that people still remember it.
“I remember the 200th [anniversary] in 1976 and how the whole country celebrated together, and it’s unfortunate that it seems to be turning into a more partisan event,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said when speaking to NOTUS reporters.
“A campaign rally is not celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country,” she said. “I expect to attend something in New Hampshire for the 250th, and I think a lot of people will be attending events in their home states.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) lamented that she hopes the public celebrates what it means to be an American.
“We’re already divided enough as a country, and I think this needs to be the one time where we all just say, isn’t it amazing that we’ve made it this far?” she said.
Even Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) agreed it shouldn't be a partisan ordeal. Fitzpatrick wants to investigate where the money went. $150 million was allocated by Congress for the events.
“There’s plenty of room for everybody and everything,” said West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. “I don’t think the nation’s birthday needs to be a partisan event. I think July 4 should be a unifying event.”