WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to deliver a “spectacular” yearlong birthday party to mark 250 years of American independence. On Thursday, he will be in the U.S. heartland to kick off the patriotic festivities leading up to next year’s anniversary.

President Trump is set to kick off a one-year countdown to America's 250th birthday with a speech July 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

President’s allies take the lead to set up yearlong celebrations around July 4, 2026, bringing in conservative groups and staff from campaign rallies.

First lady Melania Trump visited with sick patients at Children’s National hospital in Washington on Thursday as the children made Fourth of July arts and crafts ahead of the holiday.Trump, continuing a tradition of support by first ladies for the pediatric care center,

The U.S. president urged Russia’s leader to quickly end the war in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin briefing on the hourlong call.

There was nothing in the Kremlin readout to suggest that Putin had made any shift in Moscow's position during the conversation with Trump, who took office with a promise to end th