AdvertisementA New York Fire Department vessel sprays its water cannons in the New York harbor during ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America's 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)05 Jul 2026 05:05AM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInAdd CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.Read a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST WASHINGTON: Americans celebrated 250 years of independence Saturday (Jul 4) with conflicting emotions as pride, hope and patriotism battled with uncertainty and unease over the country's direction.On Washington's grassy National Mall, lined by monuments and museums, thousands sweltered in multiblock lines as temperatures neared 100F (38C).With National Guard troops - controversially deployed across Washington by President Donald Trump - imposing crowd control, forklifts dropped pallets of bottled water which crowds clawed through in scenes evoking a disaster response. Still the mood was joyous, with chants of "USA! USA! USA!" breaking out in one set of lines near the National Gallery.Show MoreShow LessUS turns 250 as Trump warns of 'attack' on American identityNearby, Iowa state congressman Eddie Andrews was hanging off the back of a farm tractor draped with stars-and-stripes livery, shouting "God bless America!" at the top of his lungs to crowds headed toward the Mall."Really this day, 250 years ago, really marked the new modern day of freedom, and it's why America leads the world in so many areas," he told AFP, between laps through downtown DC.A few blocks away, Donna Dasher and her husband Albert were trying to get a photo of the White House."I think it's just the greatest event in our nation's history," Dasher said. "President Trump is trying to do everything he can to make it the greatest celebration, and some people say, 'Oh, it's about Trump.' No, it's not."The Dashers traveled from Richmond Hill, Georgia to celebrate both America's anniversary and their own, adding that they were holding military veterans - including some members of their family - in their thoughts during the festivities.A supporter of US President Donald Trump watches a US Air Force fleet review fly over near the US Capitol during Salute to America, marking the 250th anniversary of US Independence in Washington, DC, US, Jul 4, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)"LONG WAY TO GO"While the crowd in the US capital may have represented America geographically, it did not appear to do so ideologically.Amid accusations that Trump has co-opted the anniversary to celebrate his own achievements, his and his MAGA movement's stamp was immediately clear on the clothing and accessories spotted around the Mall.In Atlanta, Georgia, music therapist Melissa Pate was far more somber about the holiday."I guess in this current political climate, 250 years - it feels like we still have a long way to go," she told AFP."To think that we're 250 years in and there are people in this country that are still not living in true freedom," she added. "It's kind of disappointing."US turns 250 as Trump warns of 'attack' on American identityYet she and her husband would still celebrate the holiday with a traditional barbecue - but later in the evening after the heat subsided.Pate said recent Democratic wins in regional and local elections had given her "hope that the little people - the working class - maybe are being heard."In Dallas, Texas, Patrick Marshall spent the morning helping his parents prepare for their Fourth of July barbecue, which this year will include more than 100 guests."I think this is still a very big, great experiment and everybody's still trying to figure out what that means to them," the lobbyist told AFP. "But I think you can look back and be reflective of loving America and celebrating its beauty while also being fair and calling the balls and strikes that need to be called out about the country."Source: AFP/fsSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...