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‘America is back’: Trump kicks off Great American State Fair with flyovers, patriotic National Mall speech
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President Donald Trump kicked off the Great American State Fair Wednesday evening by touting America’s success under his leadership and likening his political movement to the American Revolution during remarks on the National Mall.
«Just like those patriots of 1776, over the past 17 months, we have taken power back from the far off political class,» Trump told a crowd gathered in the nation’s capital for the opening ceremony. «They’re trying to gain it back, but it’s not going to happen. We have reclaimed our sovereignty, regained our liberty, restored our prosperity, and we have saved our country in all things. We are once again putting a thing called America first.»
Trump walked out to Lee Greenwood performing «God Bless the U.S.A.» as part of the opening ceremony for celebrations surrounding the nation’s 250th anniversary. The president’s remarks were preceded by military flyovers, including B-2 bombers and F-35 stealth fighter jets, as well as comments from Trump Cabinet members and music from the U.S. Marine Band.
TRUMP ADMIN UNVEILS 11-FOOT-TALL, AI-DESIGNED NUCLEAR TEST FLIGHT VEHICLE AT THE GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR
«America is back,» Trump declared to a roaring crowd. «We’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us anymore.»
Attendees hold American flag posters during the Great American State Fair Kickoff Celebration on the National Mall on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Great American State Fair runs through July 10 celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
Trump used his remarks to tout improvements to the nation’s capital, saying homeless encampments and graffiti had been removed, more than 50 monuments and memorials had been repaired and beautified, and dozens of statues had been cleaned since he returned to office. Trump also pointed to repairs at Union Station, Meridian Hill Park, Lafayette Square and the Reflecting Pool, which he said had been «gruesomely vandalized by thugs.»
«The vandals got to it,» Trump said of the Reflecting Pool. «They’ve largely been caught and are being prosecuted. We can’t let that happen to our country.»
Trump previewed several anniversary-related projects as well, including what he described as a new White House ballroom, a «triumphal arc» near Arlington Cemetery, the National Garden of American Heroes in West Potomac Park and a «Spirit of ’76» exhibition at Freedom Plaza honoring figures from the American Revolution.
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Trump framed the nation’s 250th birthday as both a celebration of America’s founding and a launchpad for what he called a new «golden age of America.»

Preparation work for the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair continues on the National Mall on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. The fair will fill the mall with 150 exhibits from all 56 states and territories from June 25 to July 10. ((Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images))
«This anniversary is a time to be proud of our past,» Trump said. «But it is also a time to lift our sights, expand our ambitions, and raise our expectations of what America can be.»
«With all of that being said, the best is yet to come,» he added.
The president was joined at the event by House Speaker Mike Johnson, several Cabinet officials and administration figures, and what Trump described as «countless» members of Congress. Trump called the opening ceremony «a very special night.»
VANILLA ICE DOUBLES DOWN ON FREEDOM 250 AFTER ARTIST EXODUS: ‘ONCE YOU COMMIT, YOU DON’T QUIT’
«It’s my honor to officially kick off the celebration with the Great American State Fair,» Trump said. «It’s going to be great. It’s going to be unbelievable.»
Trump said the fair, which runs from Wednesday through July 10, will showcase all 50 states and six U.S. territories and include military flyovers, patriotic music, high-tech demonstrations, exhibitions, a FIFA fan zone and an «old fashioned rodeo.»

An arch across the street from a 110-foot «Freedom 250» Ferris wheel during final preparations for the Great American State Fair on the National Mal on Monday, June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
«You get just a little, little tiny glimpse of it tonight,» Trump said after the flyovers. «How good is our Air Force?»
Trump also previewed what he said would be a massive Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall, telling supporters he would return to speak as the country rings in its 250th year with «the largest fireworks display in world history.» He also pointed to additional anniversary events, including the Patriot Games, a competition featuring top high school athletes, and a Freedom 250 Grand Prix race around the Capitol and down Pennsylvania Avenue.
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Trump closed by casting the anniversary as a celebration of the generations of Americans who built and defended the country, invoking the Founding Fathers, Patrick Henry, the Revolutionary War, the settling of the West, the building of railroads and skyscrapers, two world wars and the space race.
«This is our heritage. This is our history, and this is the destiny of America to be the greatest, most incredible country ever to grace the earth,» Trump said. «We are one people, one nation, marching into one magnificent future under our great American flag.»
«Happy birthday, America,» he added.
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Juan Luis Guerra pondrá el broche final a los juegos en Santo Domingo 2026
Juan Luis Guerra cerrará el 8 de agosto los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe Santo Domingo 2026 con Canto a la Patria, obra que compuso y donó al Estado dominicano en 2006. La clausura será a las 18:00 hora horas en la Arena Banreservas Virgilio Travieso Soto, tras 16 días de competencia.
El acto de cierre pondrá fin a los XXV Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe y servirá como despedida formal de Santo Domingo 2026. La organización indicó, citada por el medio dominicano El Día, que la noche evocará la gesta deportiva vivida en el país y recordará la participación de atletas de distintas naciones que compitieron por las medallas.
El coro Más que Vencedores formará parte de esa presentación, en un segmento concebido como tributo tanto a la nación como a quienes sostuvieron la producción de las ceremonias. La publicación señaló que el homenaje alcanzará al personal que trabajó en esos actos conmemorativos.
Alberto Zayas, productor general y director creativo de las ceremonias, definió la presencia del artista como un gesto nacional. “Recibir este regalo del maestro es un honor para todo el país. Cerrar el centenario de los Juegos con su voz será un momento inolvidable”.

José P. Monegro, presidente del Comité Organizador de Santo Domingo 2026, sostuvo que la participación del cantante refuerza el sentido que la organización quiso darle al evento desde su apertura. “Que el maestro Juan Luis Guerra esté en el cierre de estos Juegos confirma lo que han sido desde el primer día: una causa de país”.
Monegro añadió que la organización asumió esa confirmación como una muestra de respaldo institucional y simbólico. “El Comité Organizador recibe su gesto con profunda gratitud, y lo devuelve con el compromiso de una clausura a la altura de estos dieciséis días inolvidables”.
De acuerdo con el medio dominicano Listín Diario, Juan Luis Guerra llegará a esta clausura con una trayectoria de más de 4 décadas y decenas de premios internacionales. El medio subrayó que su carrera lo ha convertido en una de las figuras que más han proyectado el nombre de la República Dominicana en el exterior.

Juan Luis Guerra nació en Santo Domingo el 7 de junio de 1957 y construyó una carrera que, según la biografía publicada en su sitio oficial, convirtió al merengue y la bachata en repertorios de alcance internacional, con discos de alto impacto comercial, premios Grammy y Latin Grammy, giras mundiales y reconocimientos académicos y culturales.
Entre los datos más contundentes de ese recorrido figuran ventas de más de nueve millones de copias para Bachata Rosa, más de siete millones para la compilación Grandes Éxitos y una convocatoria superior a 400,000 personas en el cierre del Festival de Tenerife, en España. La publicación también ubica entre sus hitos un concierto agotado para más de 60,000 personas en el Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez de Santo Domingo.
El músico dominicano estudió Filosofía y Letras en la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo y luego ingresó al Conservatorio Nacional de Música de la capital dominicana. Más tarde se trasladó a Boston para formarse en Berklee College of Music, donde obtuvo una licenciatura en Composición de Jazz y años después recibió un doctorado honoris causa.
De regreso en República Dominicana, grabó en 1984 su primer álbum, Soplando, junto a un grupo de músicos y vocalistas locales que después sería conocido como Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40.
Citado por la biografía oficial, el artista definió ese debut como “una fusión de merengue tradicional con jazz unido a una vocalización al estilo del grupo vocal estadounidense Manhattan Transfer”.
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Israeli President Herzog calls antisemitism a ‘contamination of societies’ as hate crimes surge
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a stern warning about the global spread of antisemitism in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at his Jerusalem residence.
«Antisemitism is an age-old plague which should be dealt with by everybody, by all societies. It’s not an Israeli issue or only a Jewish issue,» he said.
«It’s a contamination of societies that starts with the Jews — never ends with them. It’s the most dangerous phenomena that has to be dealt with aggressively, with no mercy, with full adjudication, and most importantly, with education,» he added.
EXCLUSIVE: ISRAELI PRESIDENT HERZOG BLASTS MAMDANI, PRAISES TRUMP, SOUNDS ALARM ON IRAN
Growing antisemitism and other issues led President Isaac Herzog to launch Voice of the People in April 2023. (Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL for Fox News Digital)
Herzog’s warning comes as newly released New York City Police Department (NYPD) data show anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 56.9% of all confirmed hate crimes since the start of 2026, even though Jewish New Yorkers make up only about 10% of the city’s population.
Herzog pointed to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he accused of spreading hate and compromising the lives of New Yorkers.
«Mamdani does not respect my nation’s right for self-determination — the Jewish people’s inherent right to have a nation of their own. And he’s basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he’s risking his own citizens, he’s risking their safety, well-being and life,» Herzog told Fox News Digital.
In a video posted on social media on July 21, Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu «a war criminal» and «the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.»
Days later, Raul Morales, 51, allegedly yelled «Allahu Akbar» while stabbing two men on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, including one who was visibly identifiable as Jewish.
SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY YELLING ‘ALLAHU AKBAR,’ STABBING 2 MEN IN NYC ATTACK

Members of the Jewish community view the scene of an antisemitic arson attack in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London, on March 24, 2026. (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)
«We’ve seen the stabbing just a few days ago… just because somebody was dressed as an Orthodox Jew. This cannot be accepted in New York, which is a city that is dear to our heart, dear to Israelis, and dear to me personally,» Herzog said.
More broadly, a report released last month by the J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism found that 20 people were killed in antisemitic attacks across seven countries outside Israel in 2025, marking the deadliest year for such violence in the Jewish diaspora since 1994.
The J7 comprises Jewish communities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

People walk through Times Square during an anti-Israel rally on Oct. 4, 2025, in New York City. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
According to the report, more than 23,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded across the J7 countries last year, representing a 97% increase in violent attacks and a 136% rise in overall incidents compared with 2022.
«Of course, Israel is doing its best, but it has to be an effort with governments all over the world, law enforcement agencies, educational systems and Jewish communities, which we care about a lot,» Herzog said, in reference to confronting Jew-hatred.
Referencing a recent article by professor Niall Ferguson titled «The Death of History,» he said, «How much TikTok or the social networks distort the facts of history? They negate the worst and greatest horror of humankind, the Holocaust. And that’s why we have to stand up together and combat it,» he told Fox News Digital.
Herzog stressed that misinformation spread through distorted and superficial channels makes it easy to smear Israel on social media, but that such narratives do not reflect reality.
GERMAN OFFICIALS WARN ISLAMIST, FAR-LEFT RHETORIC DRIVING SPIKE IN ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS

Aerial view of Israel’s Mediterranean coastal city Tel Aviv. (Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images)
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«[Israel] is the place where the Startup Nation flourishes. This is the place where great ideas are given to the world and contribute enormously to the world in so many great fields, from health to energy, to science, to agriculture, to food security, to what not. There’s a reason why Americans who visit our country, young Americans, fall in love with this country,» he said.
Growing antisemitism, coupled with polarization within and between Jewish communities and a weakening sense of Jewish identity in some places, led Herzog to launch Voice of the People in April 2023. The initiative brings together a council of 150 emerging leaders — one-third from Israel, one-third from the United States and the remainder from around the world.
Leaders are selected through an algorithm from thousands of candidates and serve rotating terms of roughly two years, developing ideas to address challenges facing the Jewish world.
The initiative held an in-person kickoff summit in March 2025 in Haifa, featuring Herzog and bringing together all council members, reflecting his belief in building the next generation of Jewish leadership, which he described as one of his main tasks.
«I’m overjoyed by the great ideas I see and feel, and I hope that around November we will have a new registration starting for the next slot, the next cohort, and I invite as many Jewish friends to register,» he said.
anti semitism, israel, zohran mamdani, new york city, middle east
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Republicans move to oust embattled Florida GOP lawmaker in bitter primary fight
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House GOP divisions are erupting on the midterm campaign trail as Republicans fight an uphill battle to keep control of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump’s term.
The infighting touched down in Florida on Wednesday, where two House Republicans are endorsing a primary opponent to incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who is facing multiple investigations into his finances and allegations of domestic abuse, among other claims. Mills has denied any wrongdoing.
Reps. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced they’re backing former local TV anchor Ryan Elijah for Mills’ seat and said they «urge our fellow Republicans to join us in supporting him.»
«Ryan Elijah is an excellent candidate and will ensure victory for us in Florida 7,» Haridopolos told Fox News Digital. The Florida congressman will be in attendance at Mills’ debate against Elijah on Wednesday night and plans to sit next to the candidate’s wife.
GOP PARTY FISSURES EXPOSED IN BATTLE FOR S.C. SENATE SEAT TO REPLACE GRAHAM: ‘I DON’T LIKE HEARING THAT’
Representative Cory Mills, R-Fla., addresses the media outside of Manhattan Criminal Court on behalf of former President Donald Trump on May 14, 2024 in New York City. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Notably, President Donald Trump has endorsed Haridopolos, Luna and Mills for re-election — a fact Mills brought up in his response to Fox News Digital.
«I’m the only candidate in this race endorsed by President Donald Trump. Not once, not twice, but three times. I’m proud to have earned his trust because he knows I’ll continue fighting to advance the America First agenda and deliver results,» Mills said. «The fact is, my office has returned more than $107 million to the people of Florida’s 7th District, led Florida in constituent services, built one of the strongest conservative voting records in Congress, and flipped this district from blue to red,and kept it red. My record speaks for itself.»
It comes after another GOP source told Fox News Digital that some Florida Republicans were worried about the chances of keeping Mills’ seat if he won the primary on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded its projection for Republicans from «Solid R» to «Likely R» earlier this year. And with a Cook rating of R+5, Democrats could be within striking distance if Republicans see a tough enough cycle in November.
Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to a source, though he has consistently insisted that he has not done anything wrong.
WATCH: CORY MILLS BLASTS DOJ PROBE AS ‘POLITICAL OP’ AHEAD OF FLORIDA PRIMARY
The Republican military veteran dismissed reports of a DOJ investigation as a «desperate lie» by his opponents and said on X late last month, «We are not aware of any DOJ investigation, nor has there been any confirmation of such investigation by DOJ or FBI, and would fully cooperate if there was one.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Mills for a response to Haridopolos and Luna’s endorsement.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna speaks during the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on border and immigration issues in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 7, 2023. (Jack Gruber/USA TODAY)
Mills is one of several House Republicans whose allegations of misconduct are posing a headache for the GOP on the campaign trail.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced overnight that he would drop his re-election bid after an explosive report detailed sexual harassment accusations by two young female staffers. Edwards has denied those accusations but has admitted to at times making staff feel uncomfortable.
GOP LAWMAKER’S GIFTS, ‘EFFUSIVE AFFECTION’ TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT
And Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife and former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and is facing pressure from congressional Republicans to drop out of his race as well. One House GOP source called the situation a «f—ing trainwreck» in comments to Fox News Digital.
Miller has denied any wrongdoing and asked the House Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation in order to clear his name. The former Trump aide has resisted calls to exit the race, insisting he will win in November and that the public accusations from his ex-wife are a bid to derail his political career.
All three House seats are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) target list, meaning Democrats are pouring money and resources into those races.
One House Republican, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital that all three should drop out of their races, stating, «We must lead by example.»
politics, house of representatives politics, florida, republicans
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