BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Founders gathered in Philadelphia to fulfill a divine mission: to secure the freedom and independence of the United States of America. Fifty-six delegates, representing numerous Patriots across 13 Colonies, committed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to sign a historic charter of freedom, declaring the promise that all men are created equal, with the sovereign right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On that hot summer day in Pennsylvania, these Patriots not only established a new nation but also enshrined in the Declaration of Independence a series of enduring truths that have become the greatest force for virtue, peace, prosperity, and greatness on Earth.
In June 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia stood before the Second Continental Congress and proposed that the American Colonies break free from British rule and stand as free and independent states. Thomas Jefferson was tasked with articulating this resolve, crafting every line until the Congress embraced his words on a significant July day. The 56 signers of Jefferson’s Declaration pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the revolutionary truth that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
For eight long and bloody years, American Patriots led by General George Washington fought to defend this principle, enduring severe hardship and sacrifice to keep the flame of liberty alive. They fired the first shots at Lexington and Concord, held the line at Bunker Hill, crossed the icy Delaware on Christmas night for a decisive victory, and survived the harsh winter at Valley Forge. Their indomitable spirit ultimately humbled the mightiest military on Earth at Yorktown, ensuring the blessings of American Liberty for future generations. This uniquely American spirit of faith, grit, adventure, courage, resolve, and self-determination breathed life into our Republic and has sustained our nation, people, liberty, and way of life ever since.
Following that victory, a handful of Atlantic colonies grew and flourished into the strongest and wealthiest Republic in history. Americans moved westward, transforming prairies into farmland and building magnificent cities. When civil war threatened to divide the nation, Americans fought to preserve the Union, abolishing slavery and reuniting the country. In the aftermath, our ancestors built an industrial nation, pouring steel, drilling for oil, and harnessing electricity to light cities and raise skyscrapers. In the darkest hours of the last century, the United States triumphed in two world wars, defeating evil and liberating millions from tyranny.
The ingenuity of America constantly defies limitations. Americans reached the skies and walked on the Moon, planting the flag on uncharted territory and looking to the galaxies beyond. American inventions like the telephone, personal computer, and internet revolutionized global connection and commerce, unlocking limitless knowledge and prosperity worldwide. In every scientific field, American genius has cured the incurable, unraveled life’s mysteries, and expanded human knowledge beyond any nation before.
These achievements are the legacy of those who established our Republic, and the American journey that began on July 4, 1776, continues today. Across our land, from the wheat fields of the Great Plains to the bustling cities of the Atlantic, the heart of the American people beats strong and proud. This strength stems from unity and timeless values passed through generations: faith in God, love of family and freedom, devotion to hard work, and the courage to sacrifice for a greater cause. These virtues have sustained us for over two-and-a-half centuries and will empower us for future victories.
In this new era, we will reclaim sovereignty, restore territorial integrity, defend the liberty declared at our founding, and protect the heritage and culture that make our nation a marvel. We will venture into space, return Americans to the Moon, and plant the Stars and Stripes on Mars. We will explore artificial intelligence and quantum discovery, tap the energy beneath our soil, and expand prosperity for the American people. We will defend our citizens, uphold justice, protect life, and ensure law and order. My Administration will keep these promises, guided by our Founders’ wisdom and our people’s faith, leading us to a new American Golden Age where no dream is too bold to achieve.
On this 250th anniversary of our Independence, we recognize that our nation was conceived in providence, born from heroes’ sacrifices, and sustained by patriots’ dedication. We pledge to remain vigilant so that this legacy of liberty endures against every challenge. We remember our Republic was born in courage, and only courage will ensure its survival. Above all, we thank Almighty God for His blessings on our land. With gratitude for the trust passed down through the centuries, we honor those who built and defended our nation, pledging ourselves worthy of their sacrifices. Today, as one American people, we celebrate and carry forward the spirit kindled in Philadelphia and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence — and with God’s help, we will make our nation stronger, prouder, richer, and greater than ever before.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, hereby proclaim July 4, 2026, as the 250th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration of Independence. I urge all Americans to observe this day with due ceremony to honor the heritage, history, and accomplishments of our Republic.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand this third day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
