Freedom250’s events to include high school Patriot Games and civics challenge

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is keeping his campaign promise to give America “the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen” by celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding with a new nonpartisan organization named Freedom 250.

The mission of the organization is to “showcase America at its best — courageous, generous, innovative, beautiful, and free — by mobilizing partners and communities in all 50 states and around the world,” according to a news release. It will coordinate with the America 250 Task Force, federal departments, and the America 250 Commission to plan and deliver on the events nationwide.

Events will kick off with the Washington Monument illuminated “with festive birthday lights” from Dec. 31 to Jan. 5 and will mark “the start of this once-in-a-generation anniversary year,” the website states.

Trump touted the initiative to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in a Thursday morning video message and [said] that Americans will “never see anything like it, and you’ll never see anything like it again.”

After ringing in 2026 with the lighting of the Washington Monument, Trump said, “from June 25 to July 10 of next year, we will host the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, highlighting breathtaking innovations and celebrating America’s exceptional history and culture.”

The lineup will also include the first-ever “Patriot Games,” a four-day athletic event “featuring the greatest high school athletes, one young man and one young woman from each state and territory” competing in events promoting patriotism, sportsmanship, and American spirit. The games will be held in the fall.

In the spring, Trump said a major prayer event would happen on the National Mall to “rededicate our country as one nation under God,” and Flag Day will include a “one-of-a-kind UFC event” at the White House with the “greatest champion fighters in the world.”

“Celebrating the Triumph of the American Spirit,” Freedom 250’s website also includes toolkits for communities to mark the milestone and a section highlighting America’s beauty, innovation and prayer.

Jennifer Condon, Executive Vice President of America250 [a different organization from Freedom250], a bipartisan organization created by Congress, in partnership with the White House Historical Association told The National News Desk that the 250th anniversary is a once-in-a-generation milestone to bring the country together.

The new initiative (Freedom250) brings together states, companies and organizations to plan and participate in events celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday “by mobilizing partners and communities in all 50 states and around the world.” It will work in coordination with the White House Task Force 250, federal departments, and the America250 Commission to plan and deliver on the events nationwide.

Rosie Rios, chair of America250, added that the “creation of Freedom 250 will be instrumental in providing Task Force 250 with a clear funding mechanism to advance its Presidential initiatives.”

“As the national organization charged by Congress to represent all three branches of government in planning the nation’s 250th anniversary, America250’s goal is to engage all 350 million Americans (“350 for 250″),” Rios said. “America250 will continue to focus on the values-based programming approved by our bipartisan Commission at the local, state, national and international levels, including once-in-a-lifetime celebratory moments during the 4th of July weekend. We remain committed to our continued collaboration with Task Force 250 to ensure that all Americans nationwide have ample opportunities to join in the celebration].”

Published at KOMO from The National News Desk on Dec. 18. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced without permission.