South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has formally invited President Donald Trump to Mount Rushmore for a fireworks celebration on Independence Day in 2026, marking the United States’ 250th birthday.
Biggest Birthday Party for America
In a letter to Trump, Gov. Rhoden expressed enthusiasm for hosting what he called “the biggest birthday party ever for the United States of America.”
Rhoden’s announcement on social media
Governor Rhoden wrote on X: “We are ready to throw the biggest birthday party ever for America’s 250th birthday. And there is no better place to do it than Mount Rushmore. I invited @realdonaldtrump to join us for Mount Rushmore Fireworks. We cannot wait to see him there.”
Mount Rushmore as the ideal venue
He emphasised that Mount Rushmore is the ideal location for such a historic event and expressed confidence that Trump would support efforts to make it happen.
Governor’s Ooficial statement
“We are ready to throw the biggest birthday party ever for the United States of America. And there is no better place to do it than Mount Rushmore,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I trust that you will work closely with us to make it happen, and we cannot wait to see you there.”
Trump’s Task Force and key appointments
Rhoden highlighted Trump’s recent creation of the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday (Task Force 250) and the confirmation of former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior as key developments that could facilitate the event.
“We relish the opportunity to work with both Secretary Burgum and Task Force 250 to plan a celebration that will draw the attention of the entire nation and the world,” Rhoden said in a statement.
The Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration was previously restored in 2020 under former Governor Kristi Noem and President Trump, after being discontinued for more than a decade. However, the Biden administration later rejected requests to hold the event in subsequent years.
