Attendees and Volunteers look on before the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Attendees take their seats during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Tien Tran of Orange Ciunty, Cailf. (right) looks on during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Tran’s outfit, a tribute to President Trump included a serving of McDonald’s french fries labeled “fries, fries fries,” a reference to President Trump proclaiming “fight, fight, fight” following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Tien Tran of Orange Ciunty, Cailf. (right) shows off his jacket during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Tran’s outfit, a tribute to President Trump included a serving of McDonald’s french fries labeled “fries, fries fries,” a reference to President Trump proclaiming “fight, fight, fight” following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Attendees line up for corn dogs and other fairground classics during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann talks with reporters during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann speaks during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Attendees look on during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, looks on during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

An audience member uses an American flag to shade themselves form the sun during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, waves to the crowd during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Air Force One flys overhead during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Audience members wave signs during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Audience members cheer during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

President Donald Trump takes the stage during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

President Donald Trump speaks during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Audience members look on during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Mark and LuAnn Nulle (center) of Gilette, Wyoming look on during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The Nulles first saw Trump speak in Casper, Wyoming and decided to spend their holiday weekend traveling to see him again and attend a car show. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

An audience member holds a sign reading “Farmers first” during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann gives a thumbs up after being acknowledged by President Donald Trump during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirsti Noem gives a thumbs up during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Audience members look on as President Donald Trump speaks during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Audience members cheer President Donald Trump during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

President Donald Trump exits the stage after speaking during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

President Donald Trump acknowledges his supporters as he exits the stage after speaking during the AMERICA250 Celebration Kick-Off in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The event, headlined by remarks from President Donald Trump, began a year of celebration of the UnitedStates’ semiquincentennial one year and one day before July 4, 2026. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)