(AFP) – US President Donald Trump visits the midwestern state of Iowa on Thursday to kick off a year-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday — and tout his own second-term presidency. The Republican will deliver a campaign-style speech followed by fireworks, hot on the heels of what he hopes will be Congress passing his “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill.
It also comes the day before Independence Day on July 4, and has been sold by Trump as the start of celebrations to mark two and a half centuries since the foundation of the United States. But as with a huge military parade in Washington for the US army’s 250th birthday last month, it reflects Trump’s growing tendency to use the semiquincentennial festivities to boost his own image.
“I am thrilled to announce that I will be traveling to one of my favorite places in the World, beautiful Iowa… to kick off the very beginning of our exciting Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary!” Trump said on Truth Social earlier this week.
“Iowa voted for me THREE TIMES, because they love my Policies for our Wonderful Farmers and Small Businesses, and they LOVE AMERICA!” Trump, 79, also said he would also be talking about how his trade policies affect farmers, a key demographic in Iowa and one of the voter groups that helped propel him to a second term in the White House. He is set to say that his hardline tariff negotiations with countries around the world, which have caused jitters on the markets, will benefit working-class Americans.
The America 250 committee, which is organizing the events over the next year, said the “Salute to America” event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds would also feature “patriotic entertainment and fireworks.” Iowa is well known as one of the first stops for primary campaigns in US presidential elections.
Trump won the state by 13 points in 2024. He also easily took it in 2016 when he won the presidency for the first time — and in 2020 when he lost the White House to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump earlier this week dropped a federal lawsuit over an Iowa poll that wrongly forecast he would lose the state in November’s election against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
The president had sued renowned pollster Ann Selzer, her former employer the Des Moines Register, and the newspaper’s parent company, Gannett, over a poll that showed him trailing Harris by three points.
The rally in a place famed for its role in US presidential elections will also throw the focus on who might succeed Trump as Republican candidate in 2028. His second son Eric said last week that he and other relatives may run for public office, fueling speculation of a Trump dynasty. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly teased trying for a third term, despite it being barred by the US constitution.
– Danny KEMP
© 2024 AFP
