President Trump addressed a large crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 3, marking the official kickoff of the yearlong celebration leading to America’s 250th birthday.
It was his first major speech since Congress approved the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which he declared a “phenomenal victory” for restoring America’s greatness.
Trump opened the event with Lee Greenwood’s rendition of “God Bless the USA,” praising Iowa’s role in delivering strong support during the 2024 primary with 98 of 99 counties going his way. He portrayed the new legislation as the ideal national birthday present, asserting it eliminates waste, boosts border security, and enacts key promises such as permanent 2017 tax cuts and relief from taxes on tips and overtime pay.
“There can be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago when Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill to make America great again,” Trump stated.
Trump continued to share the victories found in the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ and pledged his support for granting farmers greater authority to manage undocumented agricultural workers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has approved a vouching system.
Trump framed this vision as a means to unite Americans, recalling the bicentennial of 1976 and stating that the 250th anniversary offers an opportunity for shared patriotism, symbolically launching in the heartland to bridge partisan divides.
The celebration, branded “Salute to America 250,” includes a bold lineup: a “Great American State Fair,” patriot-themed high school “Patriot Games,” events at national parks, and most memorably, a UFC championship fight on the White House lawn attended by 20,000–25,000 spectators in collaboration with UFC boss Dana White. Trump also promised the opening of a “National Garden of American Heroes” featuring iconic statues of American figures.
Trump shared his plans for a UFC fight in celebration of America250, saying: “Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of ‘America250’ and I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight.
“Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We’re going to have a UFC fight. We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House.” We have a lot of land there.”
