Americans lit up the sky with fireworks, marched through streets and sang at concerts on Saturday to mark 250 years since independence, yet the landmark occasion played out amid deep political rifts and scorching temperatures.
Millions gathered nationwide to honour the July 4, 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence, marking the culmination of years of preparation for what officials hoped would rank among the nation's grandest celebrations. The festivities spanned from Washington, DC to Philadelphia to New York, with military jets screaming overhead and international tall ships sailing into harbours.
President Donald Trump addressed crowds at Mount Rushmore on the eve of the anniversary. He called Independence Day "one of the most extraordinary days in the history of the world."
But Trump didn't stop there. He argued that "the American identity is under a renewed attack" and claimed there had been an "undeniable attempt to beat the American spirit out of us."
Political opponents quickly pounced on his remarks. They accused him of weaponising a national holiday for partisan gain at a moment when the country remains fractured along ideological lines.
Vice President JD Vance struck a different tone aboard the USS Kearsarge in New York. He urged Americans to move beyond what he called a "two dimensional view" of themselves and one another.
"We celebrate 250 years of America facing the future without fear. We celebrate 250 years of proving what a free people can achieve," Vance said.
He invoked the founding document directly. "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," he told the crowd.
Vance said those principles retained "tremendous power" for Americans today. He called on citizens to unite in building the country's next chapter.
"All of us had our part. All of us will need to do our part to create the next 250 years of American greatness," the vice president added before offering birthday wishes to the nation.
The festivities faced brutal conditions in many regions. Heat soared past 38 degrees Celsius across eastern states, triggering urgent health alerts from authorities.
Officials scrapped several outdoor celebrations while others got shifted to cooler evening hours. Meteorologists warned that severe thunderstorms and flash floods threatened to follow the oppressive heat.
Major performers including Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige and the Smashing Pumpkins headlined anniversary concerts across the country. Philadelphia, birthplace of the Declaration, hosted thousands at public celebrations and concerts.
Congress had created the bipartisan America250 commission to coordinate the festivities. Trump later established a separate Freedom 250 planning committee through executive order, sparking fresh controversy over how the nation would mark the milestone.
