Updated

Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 1

Trump to Headline July 4 Events for America’s 250th as 44% Call U.S. One of the Best

Updated

Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 1

Trump to Headline July 4 Events for America’s 250th as 44% Call U.S. One of the Best

Q: Amid severe drought warnings, will the controversial Mount Rushmore fireworks show proceed as planned?

Yes. The Mount Rushmore fireworks show is still scheduled for July 3, but it is not guaranteed to go forward until officials make a final same-day safety decision. Federal and state officials are actively preparing for the event, which would be the first fireworks display at Mount Rushmore in six years. Tickets have been distributed, contracts are in place, and President Donald Trump is expected to attend. The National Park Service confirmed the celebration earlier this year, and South Dakota officials have said planning is proceeding. The uncertainty comes from drought and wildfire risk. Pennington County and the surrounding Black Hills have been under moderate to extreme drought conditions, and fire danger in the region has been elevated. Critics, including environmental groups and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, have urged cancellation, citing wildfire risk, environmental damage, and the site’s cultural significance. Officials say the event will proceed only if conditions are safe. A formal “go/no-go” review is expected on the day of the show, based on weather, fire danger, and whether firefighting resources are in place. Organizers say an Incident Management Team, fire response plan, and additional mitigation measures have been prepared. If fireworks are judged unsafe, the event can shift to an alternative light show. So, as of now, the show remains planned, but severe drought warnings mean it could still be halted at the last minute.

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 1

Official July Fourth events in Washington will center on President Donald Trump, who has cast the celebration as "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all."
The 250th anniversary is unfolding through rival organizing efforts: Trump created Freedom 250 by executive order even though Congress had already tasked the bipartisan America250 group with leading the commemoration.
Freedom 250 controls marquee events including National Mall fireworks, New York tall ships and the Great American State Fair, where Trump stepped in after musical acts withdrew over fears the festivities would turn political.
America250 has instead built a parallel nationwide program, including a Los Angeles benefit concert and a 900-pound time capsule buried in Philadelphia to be opened in 2276.
The split reflects a broader national mood: an April AP-NORC poll found 44% of Americans see the United States as just one of the best countries, underscoring the division shadowing the anniversary.