I love the local Memorial Day parade. I fly the flag on July 4th. I get teary-eyed at the playing of the national anthem. Much as I criticize the United States, I’m proud to be an American and thankful that of all the countries in the world, I was fortunate enough to be born here. For those reasons and more, the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America should be a day of celebration of a nation I love. And yet, much as try, I cannot find it within me, not because of my feelings about my country, but because he’s made it all about him.

AMERICA IS BACK Rally! pic.twitter.com/ZAowKERA12

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 30, 2026

There stands a UFC stage on the White House lawn, paid for by the fees collected from visitors to national parks. Forget whether you consider fighting in an octagon to be an American activity. The claim is that it’s part of the 250th celebration, but instead of happening on July 4th, it will be on June 14th. You’re never going to guess whose birthday that happens to be. At least he’s allowing soldiers to serve as his audience, provided they meet the height and weight requirements necessary for the desired optics.

Musical acts were booked to perform at the Great American State Fair, non-sequitur notwithstanding. One of the acts, perhaps the most appropriate under the circumstances, was Milli Vanilli. Who would have thought the scandalous fraud act, Milli Vanilli, still existed? And yet, the act says no one asked them to perform. But others were asked, and upon realizing what this was about, withdrew.

“I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event,” Young MC, whose real name is Marvin Young, wrote in all capital letters. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event.”

Young MC joined Morris Day, frontman of the Prince-affiliated funk-rock band the Time, who wrote that he and the group would not be participating with a short, direct social media post: “It’s a No for Me.”

The fallout continued on Thursday when the funk-soul group the Commodores and the country singer Martina McBride said they would also not participate in the event.

It’s being called “Freedom 250,” but like everything else he touches, it has to be all about him.

“Cancel it,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain.”

And what would replace these overpriced, boring musicians who do nobody wants to hear?

Calling himself “the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World” and “the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime,” Mr. Trump wrote that he should “take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate ‘Artists.’”

It is a quirk of fate that Trump happens to be the president on the nation’s semiquincentennial. He was elected to fix the economy and end the forever wars, and because his opponent was not considered up to the task. But the 250th Anniversary still falls within his administration, like it or not, and the 250th Anniversary of a nation I love despite its failings is something that should be celebrated.

There should be a way in which the people of this nation can remember our founding without it being inextricably sullied by this vulgar, deceitful, narcissistic ignoramus, who is incapable of not making everything about himself. I, for one, want there to be. I, for one, want to celebrate my nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary. I, for one, want this July 4th to be a festive day. And yet, I cannot find a way to celebrate America without it being tainted by Trump. I realize that I should rise above this puny man and not let him steal the joy of the day, but I can’t seem to find a way to do so. It’s not the “yips.” It’s him. He ruined it.