Article by Bruno Cabanes on the 250th Anniversary of the United States
In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the United States, America 250 has been planning for ten years. This bipartisan commission was created by Congress in 2016 under the second presidency of Barack Obama to plan and coordinate the massive nationwide effort. The commission aims to reflect on the fundamental principles of the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776, and avoid any partisan exploitation.
Against the backdrop of the current identity crisis in the United States, the imbalance of powers favoring the executive, and the national narrative censored by the Trump administration, the celebrations’ conformity to the commission’s recommendations is uncertain.
Mariann Budde, the bishop who dares to defy Trump, testifies to the creation of the Task Force 250 in 2025, complemented by the establishment of an entity for partnerships with the private sector called Freedom 250, initiated by President Trump. The intentions behind President Trump’s involvement in this anniversary are crucial, as are the meanings that Americans themselves infer from it.
Issue of April 2026 from the journal L’Histoire on the American Revolution.
In 1826, the celebrations surrounding the deaths of founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson marked notable moments. Subsequent years saw the return of the Marquis de Lafayette and the commotion surrounding the jubilees, tinged with political, social, and historical significance.
Similar celebratory undertakings were witnessed in 1876 and 1926, each with their unique twists, symbolizing evolving societal narratives and challenging established norms.
Donald Trump’s actions against Pope Leo XIV: an unprecedented confrontation between political power and moral authority.
As the United States stands fifty years later, approaching the commemorations of 2026 envisioned by Donald Trump, tensions, skepticism, and uprising loom large. A divided nation faces a momentous occasion that risks being overshadowed by political dynamics and dissent.
Author Bruno Cabanes, an expert in contemporary history, holds a prestigious history position at Ohio State University.
