US semiquincentennial celebrations divided by partisans

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this week, the milestone arrives amid a climate of deep national division, with commemorations reflecting the country's polarized political landscape rather than the unifying civic moment many experienced during the 1976 Bicentennial.

The anniversary, known as a semiquincentennial, has been the subject of competing visions and planning efforts. A decade ago, Congress established the bipartisan America 250 commission, with former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush serving as honorary co-chairs. However, after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump established a rival committee, Freedom 250. Reports indicate Trump has sought to merge the national celebration with his own 80th birthday, staging events such as cage fights on the White House South Lawn.

This stands in stark contrast to the 1976 Bicentennial, which was widely remembered as a unifying national party. That year, despite a backdrop of national trauma from the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, celebrations swept the country. Over 12,000 communities participated in renovation projects, millions visited historical...