Attendees take their seats during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
ERIN MURPHY and MAYA MARCHEL HOFF
Lee-Gazette Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES – President Donald Trump in Iowa on Thursday promised to keep the state a central part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, celebrated Congressional approval of his sweeping tax and spending legislation, and snuck in a few of his greatest campaign-style rally hits.
President Donald Trump takes the stage during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
President Donald Trump takes the stage during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann talks with reporters during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, waves to the crowd during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines on Thursday. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Tien Tran of Orange County, Cailfornia, shows off his jacket during the AMERICA250 Celebration kickoff in Des Moines on Thursday. Tran’s outfit, a tribute to President Trump, included a serving of McDonald’s french fries labeled “fries, fries fries,” a reference to President Trump proclaiming “fight, fight, fight” following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign.
An audience member uses an American flag to shade themselves form the sun during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
President Donald Trump takes the stage during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
President Donald Trump takes the stage during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann talks with reporters during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, waves to the crowd during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines on Thursday. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Attendees take their seats during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
Tien Tran of Orange County, Cailfornia, shows off his jacket during the AMERICA250 Celebration kickoff in Des Moines on Thursday. Tran’s outfit, a tribute to President Trump, included a serving of McDonald’s french fries labeled “fries, fries fries,” a reference to President Trump proclaiming “fight, fight, fight” following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign.
An audience member uses an American flag to shade themselves form the sun during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026.
