Eye-watering cost of Trump's 'beautification projects' as America celebrates 250th anniversary
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Money, Tyla Exclusive
Madison Burgess
Featured Image Credit: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Money, Tyla Exclusive
The 250th anniversary of America’s independence has finally arrived - and to say a lot of money has been spent on the milestone would be an understatement.
From Trump’s face being stamped onto passports, to a cage fight outside the White House, and a whole lot of gold, it’s safe to say the plans, which kicked off last month, have been elaborate.
The festivities are being organised by two separate groups - America 250, which was established by Congress ten years ago to plan nonpartisan events, and Freedom 250, which was created by the US president, 80, and is a public-private partnership.
As reported by the BBC, $150 million (£112 million) in federal funds has been allocated for the birthday celebration; however, millions of dollars more are said to be being spent by Freedom 250.
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Many people have slammed the celebrations as ‘beautification projects,’ including former Democratic president Joe Biden, who called Trump a ‘narcissistic loser.
So, as the US celebrates its big day, we’ve rounded up everything the nation is doing to commemorate it - and how much it’s reported to cost.
One of the most talked-about projects associated with America’s 250th birthday is the 250-foot-tall ‘Independence Arch,’ which has been nicknamed ‘Arc de Trump’.
The Republican leader announced his plans last year to build the arch among the historic monuments in Washington, D.C, just across from the Lincoln Memorial at the entrance of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
USA Today reports that it’s expected to be erected within the next two to three years and will have will have three levels - a ground floor, a mezzanine, and an observation deck.
As for costs, those are estimated at as much as a jaw-dropping $100 million, according to Axios. However, Forbes reports that the Trump administration has yet to present an official estimate for the monument.
Another of Trump’s bizarrely unique celebrations was, of course, the UFC fight night that took place on the South Lawn of the White House on 14 June - which also happened to be the president’s birthday.
A whopping 4,300 people were in attendance for the invite-only event, dubbed UFC Freedom 250, on the South Lawn, while a further 85,000 fans gathered at a nearby fan zone to watch the action unfold.
As reported by TIME Magazine, a court filing outlined that the event was expected to cost more than $60 million.
“In preparation, well over $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been expended,” the document read.
A White House official told the outlet at the time: "UFC is funding and paying for this entire event. There are no taxpayer dollars being used outside of what would be applied towards employees' normal duties and responsibilities."
In true Trump fashion, the Republican leader has also been throwing a lick of gold over literally everything and anything he can.
We all know he’s a fan of the colour, thanks to his White House renovations, but to celebrate 250 years of America’s independence, he’s taken things a step further.
The president ordered to cover the bronze horse statues near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C, with a layer of gold leaf
According to publicly available federal documents reviewed by NOTUS, the National Park Service gave out a $5 million contract to a gilding studio in Maryland to repair the Arts of War and Arts of Peace and cover them with a thick layer of 23.75-karat gold leaf by 4 July.
"A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th Birthday Year!" - President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XV2sk6smcf
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 30, 2026
While the $5 million payment is for the entire restoration of the statues, it’s estimated that the gold leafing will make up the largest portion of the cost.
Then, on 30 June, Trump unveiled another ‘gold gift’ - a bald eagle cast in gold, and bearing a stars-and-stripes crest, that’s been fixed to a balcony of the White House.
Trump shared a photo of the enormous addition, captioned "A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th birthday year!"
A cost has not yet been revealed for the sizeable present.
As part of Trump’s mission to ‘beautify’ Washington DC in time for 4 July, he also turned his attention to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The attraction was built in the 1920s and is located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Trump announced the renovation in April, which included painting the bottom of the pool ‘American flag blue’.
As reported by NBC News, he said at the time that it would cost between $1.5 million and $2 million and that work would be completed ‘long before July 4’.
However, following some algae-related complications, according to The Hill, the cost for the ill-fated pool renovation has now amounted to an eye-watering $14.7 million.
This puts the total amount, not including federal employee labour costs, at a staggering seven times greater than anticipated.
As well as the beautification projects, the Trump administration has also put on the Great American State Fair - a 16-day festival on the National Mall in Washington.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Trump’s six ‘Freedom Trucks’ will also make their way across the country.
Officially categorised as ‘mobile museums,’ they will be visiting schools, fairs, and community celebrations nationwide to ‘tell the story of American Independence’.
Reuters reports that the Institute of Museum and Library Services gave a $14 million grant for the six trucks, which are at a centrepiece of Trump’s celebrations.
As for July 4 itself, more than 850,0000 pyrotechnic effects will be launched over the National Mall in what Trump is calling the most ‘spectacular Trump rally of them all’.
The Independent reports that it will be not only the biggest July 4 fireworks show in D.C., but also the longest, estimated to last about 40 minutes.
Trump wrote on Truth Social in June: “On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ‘TRIBUTE TO AMERICA’.”
The Washington Post has reported that the Trump administration is diverting at least $90 million from entry fees to National Parks to fund the $1.6 million fireworks display.
So, when you tot up all of the reported costs for the above celebrations, you’re met with a mind-boggling figure of $255 million.
And that’s while leaving out all of the other additions that don’t have price estimations, such as the ‘patriot passports’ and the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC.
Happy birthday, America!
Davis Ingle, White House Spokesman, told Tyla: “President Trump is ensuring that America gets the spectacular 250th birthday it deserves - and Freedom 250 will execute on the president’s historic vision. Between the Great American State Fair, the Salute to America Celebration, the Patriot Games, Rededicate 250, and other exciting events, 2026 will feature a renewal of patriotism and national pride under this President’s leadership."