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.

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«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.»

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.»

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«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.

An illegal immigrant who allegedly exposed himself to one woman before trying to drag another woman into the woods at a Virginia park was arrested last year on felony drug trafficking charges but was released after sanctuary jurisdiction officials refused to cooperate with federal immigration officials, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a Nicaraguan national who DHS says illegally entered the U.S. in Arizona in 2022 before being released under the Biden administration, was arrested Tuesday after Fairfax County police said he was linked to two separate incidents at Wakefield Park in Annandale, Virginia. He is now charged with abduction of a person with intent to defile and indecent exposure, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer asking Fairfax County officials not to release him, DHS said.

DHS said Rico Rosales had previously been arrested in Fairfax County in 2024 on felony drug trafficking charges, but was later released after local officials refused to honor an ICE detainer. According to local reporting, court records show the 2024 drug charges were dropped by the office of George Soros-backed Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, paving the way for his release from criminal custody.

«This criminal illegal alien exposed himself to one woman in a park and then attempted to abduct another woman the same day,» said Acting Assistant Secretary of DHS Lauren Bis. «He was previously arrested for drug trafficking in 2024, but Fairfax County sanctuary politicians refused to cooperate with ICE law enforcement and released him from jail.»

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«This predator was RELEASED by the Biden Administration into our country in 2022. DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal and instead turn him over to ICE custody. Open border and sanctuary policies have real consequences, and they are the creation of more innocent victims.»

The case is drawing renewed scrutiny to Northern Virginia’s fight over ICE detainers and sanctuary-style policies, coming months after Abdul Jalloh, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone with more than 30 prior arrests, was charged with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a Virginia bus stop. 

That case helped fuel a recent House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Fairfax County’s sanctuary policies, where Descano and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid faced questions from congressional Republicans over their handling of criminal illegal immigrants and ICE detainers.

Fairfax officials have previously defended their policy by saying they do not hold inmates on ICE detainers alone without a judicial warrant. ICE detainers ask local jails to notify federal immigration authorities before an inmate’s release and hold the person briefly, so ICE can assume custody. ICE has argued that at-large arrests are more unpredictable and potentially dangerous than jail transfers.

Abdul Jalloh, 32, is accused of killing Stephanie Minter, 41, at a Virginia bus stop.  (Fairfax County Police Department; provided)

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office pushed back on DHS’s characterization of the Rico Rosales case, telling Fox News Digital that he was booked into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in 2024 and that ICE filed an «informal request,» but «failed to act upon» it after a court ordered Rico Rosales released.

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«There was no judicial warrant filed by ICE,» a spokesperson for Sheriff Stacey Kincaid’s office said.

The sheriff’s office also said it does not currently have an ICE detainer on file for Rico Rosales in connection with his latest charges, despite DHS saying ICE had lodged one. The office said ICE would be able to take him into custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center if federal immigration officials file a detainer and respond when he is ordered released.

«The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office does not obstruct or prevent ICE from acting on their civil detainers,» the spokesperson said.

Kincaid’s office said its policy is not to hold inmates past their release date unless ICE presents a judicial warrant or court-issued criminal detainer. A portion of the sheriff’s office standard operating procedures provided to Fox News Digital states that, «to hold a prisoner for» Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), ICE or another immigration enforcement official, «a criminal judicial order» is required.

When asked about Rico Rosales’ charges being dropped in 2024, Laura Birnbaum, chief of staff and public information officer for Descano’s office, said there are «many reasons» why the outcome of a criminal case may differ from the initial charges, including insufficient evidence, victims not wanting to continue with prosecution, key witnesses not being present in court, defendants cooperating with police or prosecutors, defendants taking behavioral steps such as restitution or treatment, coordination with other agencies or the initial charge not reflecting what actually occurred.

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«Our office will share additional specifics about cases where possible, but we cannot jeopardize ongoing prosecutions or investigations; disclose personal information about victims or witnesses; or share non-public case information,» Birnbaum told Fox News Digital.

Birnbaum also pushed back on criticism of the office, saying, «Some right-wing activists may attempt to retrofit political motives onto certain case outcomes or claim that prosecutors have the perfect ability to predict and avert future crimes.»

Governor Spanberger has moved to limit Virginia law enforcement’s role in federal civil immigration enforcement, including rescinding Youngkin-era directives, ending state-level 287(g) agreements and signing legislation that restricts state and local law-enforcement assistance in civil immigration operations absent a judicial warrant or subpoena. However, her office argues local jail custody decisions, including in Fairfax County, are made by local officials rather than the governor.

Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old man from Sierra Leone who DHS says entered the U.S. illegally in 2012, was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a 41-year-old woman in Fairfax County and has an extensive prior criminal history. (Department of Homeland Security/Getty Images)

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«Governor Spanberger strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported. Under Governor Spanberger’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Corrections continues the long-standing practice of notifying ICE when individuals born outside of the United States are in state custody. Virginia state law enforcement agencies also continue to participate in task forces and inter-agency cooperation with federal agencies,» a statement from Spanberger’s office provided to Fox News Digital said.

«As a former federal law enforcement officer who went after child predators, Governor Spanberger will always prioritize the safety and well-being of Virginia’s families,» her office continued.

La tensión entre el presidente Donald Trump y los legisladores de su propio partido en el Congreso se agudizó este miércoles, luego de que el Senado aprobara el martes una resolución para que Estados Unidos retire las tropas de la zona del conflicto con Irán. El jefe de la Casa Blanca calificó a los republicanos que votaron esa medida como “perdedores”, canceló abruptamente la firma de una ley de viviendas y dijo que quiere que los legisladores aprueben primero un proyecto de reforma electoral que lo considera vital para la seguridad nacional.

Las rispideces de Trump y los legisladores de su partido vienen acrecentándose desde el comienzo de la guerra, que es cada vez más impopular en Estados Unidos, según las encuestas. El martes, el Senado aprobó una resolución que llama al Gobierno a retirar las tropas de la zona de conflicto en Oriente Medio, una medida que contó con el apoyo clave de cuatro legisladores republicanos.

Trump reaccionó por Truth Social y criticó la decisión del Congreso con dureza. Por primera vez en décadas, Irán “respeta a todo Estados Unidos y al presidente”, escribió Trump.

«El Senado decide tener una ley de poderes de guerra en un mal momento, diciendo al principal patrocinador del terror en el mundo que a Estados Unidos no le gusta lo que hago, y que debo parar, y al hacerlo ha proporcionado ayuda y consuelo al enemigo. Cuatro republicanos perdedores votaron con los demócratas, e Irán preguntó a mi gente: «¿qué significa?»”, dijo en referencia a las actuales negociaciones que mantienen con el régimen iraní sobre un acuerdo final. Y el presidente agregó: “Estos senadores solo me han hecho más difícil el trabajo, pero lo haré de una manera u otra».

La furia de Trump siguió el miércoles por la mañana cuando decidió cancelar la promulgación de una ley aprobada también el martes con aval de los dos partidos, que significaría mejorar el acceso a las viviendas para los estadounidenses. Dijo que antes de firmarla quiere que el Congreso apruebe primero un proyecto de ley llamado “America Save Act”, que exige reglas más estrictas para la identificación de votantes en las elecciones.

Trump considera esa ley como indispensable para la “seguridad nacional”. La iniciativa crearía nuevos requisitos estrictos para que los votantes prueben su ciudadanía y muestren una identificación en las urnas.

También exige que se agregue una prohibición de las boletas por correo al proyecto de ley, así otros temas que no relacionados con lo electoral, como disposiciones para bloquear cirugías de reasignación de sexo en algunos menores y evitar que personas nacidas como hombres jueguen en deportes femeninos.

Esas medidas son tildadas de discriminatorias por los opositores demócratas, que denuncian un intento de torpedear a su electorado en los estados bajo su control. Muchos piensan que es una maniobra de Trump para que los republicanos puedan conseguir más votos en algunos estados clave para las próximas elecciones de noviembre y que no está enfocada en lo que realmente interesa hoy a la gente. Hasta algunos legisladores oficialistas critican que el presidente esté tan empeñado en la aprobación de esa ley burocrática cuando los estadounidenses están sufriendo una crisis de inflación y de acceso a vivienda.

En medio de esa turbulencia, Trump se unió a los republicanos del Senado para almorzar en el Capitolio, su primera reunión con ellos desde que desayunaron en la Casa Blanca en noviembre. “Creo que tuvimos una gran reunión. Tenemos un partido muy unido«, dijo el presidente a los periodistas al salir del encuentro con los senadores.

Trump ha estado presionando a los senadores durante meses para que se concentren en su proyecto de ley de votación de prueba de ciudadanía, aunque no cuenta con los votos para aprobarse.

También ha contribuido a reducir su propio apoyo en el Senado después de respaldar a rivales en primarias contra dos republicanos en funciones que antes eran votos confiables para su agenda —el senador de Texas, John Cornyn, y el senador de Luisiana, Bill Cassidy. Ambos hombres perdieron sus primarias y desde entonces se han vuelto más críticos del presidente.

Aun así, los senadores dijeron antes de que Trump cancelara la firma del proyecto de vivienda que esperaban centrarse en la unidad, no en los desacuerdos.

“Si vamos a ganar las elecciones de mitad de mandato, necesitamos estar en la misma sintonía”, declaró Cornyn el martes antes de la reunión. “No estamos en la misma sintonía ahora, y eso creo que es peligroso”.