In a move to commemorate America's upcoming 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a White House task force dedicated to planning a grand celebration for July 4, 2026. The task force, chaired by Trump himself, includes senior administration officials and aims to coordinate with state and local governments to organize festivities starting this Memorial Day. The plan envisions a yearlong "Salute to America 250" celebration, featuring events like the "Great American State Fair" in Iowa and "Patriot Games" sports contests for high school athletes nationwide. These initiatives are designed to showcase the nation's history, promote pride, and envision America's future.
Additionally, the executive order reinstates a previous directive aimed at protecting monuments, memorials, and statues from destruction and vandalism. This order, originally signed in 2020 and overturned by President Biden, mandates the Attorney General to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any individual or group responsible for damaging or destroying such structures. It also threatens state and local law enforcement agencies with a loss of federal funding if they fail to protect these monuments. The reinstatement of this order responds to recent incidents, including a demonstration last June where protesters vandalized statues and structures around the White House with graffiti.