'America is back': Johnson shares patriotic message as US celebrates 250th anniversary

 FILE - Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on June 30, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (TNND) — House Speaker Mike Johnson urged Americans to celebrate the Fourth of July, calling the U.S. "the greatest nation in the history of the world," while also encouraging citizens to reflect on the country's founding principles ahead of its 250th anniversary.

The Louisiana Republican acknowledged the challenges facing the nation, but said Americans have "so many reasons" to celebrate.

"This is a great day, great week to be an American," Johnson said during a news conference ahead of the holiday. "

"America is back right now, and there's so many reasons to be excited and to celebrate with your family and friends."

Johnson said the nation's founding documents remain central to the country's identity, pointing to the Declaration of Independence's assertion that "all men are created equal."

 

He argued that the phrase reflects the belief that rights are granted by God rather than government, saying the founders intentionally declared that people are "created equal" and endowed with "unalienable rights" including "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Johnson described the Declaration as a revolutionary statement that established the United States as a nation founded on equality of opportunity and the inherent dignity of every individual.

"We're still a grand experiment in self-governance," Johnson said, adding that Americans are the "stewards" of the principles laid out by the nation's founders.

The speaker also encouraged Americans to "celebrate freedom," "the great blessings we have to be in this country," and the nation's accomplishments.

"We've got challenges, of course. We're working through those every day, but there is no reason not to celebrate," he said. "There is no reason to be depressed in any way. We recognize 250 years is still an experiment. We're still a grand experiment in self-governance."

GALLERY: Multi-state heat wave forces changes to Fourth of July celebrations across East

 WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 03: People watch as Army helicopters fly past the Washington Monument during pre-Fourth of July festivities on the National Mall on July 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. Fourth of July festivities have been shortened and some are facing cancellations amid an extreme, multi-day heat wave bringing triple digit temperatures to much of the eastern United States. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Despite a heat wave that blanketed the eastern U.S. with high temperatures and stifling humidity, Americans took part in Fourth of July festivities on Friday.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 03: Pete Folch carries an American flag during a morning run with other runners as the city prepares for July 4th festivities on July 03, 2026, in Washington, DC. A fireworks show will begin around 10:30 p.m on July 4th as the city deals with extreme heat warnings. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Still, many celebrations were scaled back or canceled due to the extreme heat.

 

Cities from the Mid-Atlantic to New England shortened parades, moved events to cooler hours, and adjusted schedules in an effort to protect attendees, as well as volunteers and emergency personnel. Some communities canceled outdoor festivities altogether, citing public safety concerns.

The Great American State Fair temporarily closed on Friday due to extreme heat conditions in Washington, D.C. Freedom 250 said the fair gates will reopen at 5 p.m. EST for evening events.

"The safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, performers, vendors, and staff is our highest priority. Conditions are expected to improve later this afternoon, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back at 5:00 p.m. as preparations continue for this evening’s festivities," Freedown 250 wrote on X.

The National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings and advisories for millions of people, warning that prolonged exposure could increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly for older adults, young children, and people with underlying health conditions.

Officials urged residents planning to attend fireworks displays, festivals, and community gatherings to stay hydrated, seek shade when possible, and limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.

Some organizers have expanded access to cooling stations, misting tents and free drinking water, while others have encouraged attendees to arrive later in the evening when temperatures begin to fall.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially married!

 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at Dolby Theatre on March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

It’s a love story, baby they said yes! Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially married!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce out in Brooklyn on May 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images)

The couple tied the knot at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday, July 3, after much speculation about the day and venue.

Many of the details of the day had been kept under wraps by Swift and Kelce, but they appeared to acknowledge they actually got married around 7:30 EST with a light up sign outside MSG that said "JUST&T MARRIED!" with a purple background, with the T&T standing for their initials.

The sign announcing Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding outside Madison Square Garden. (Courtesy: AP)

Guests began arriving at the venue around 3pm EST in dark SUVs, doing their best to beat the nearly 100 degree heat. Among them were Swift's longtime best friend Abigail Anderson, and other famous pals like Benson Boone, Dakota Johnson, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, Karlie Kloss, and the Haim sisters. From Kelce's NFL pals, Mike Vrabel and Kareem Hunt were spotted.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 03: Karlie Kloss is seen in SoHo on July 03, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/GC Images)

Other celebs seen walking in included Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, Jason Sudeikis In total, a reported over 1,000 guests were invited to attend.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 2: Hugh Grant and Anna Elisabet Eberstein arrive at Madison Square Garden on July 2, 2026 in New York City. According to reports, several permits have been filed with New York City around the venue. There have been unconfirmed reports that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will be celebrating their wedding in the area. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Thursday night, the couple hosted a rehearsal dinner for around 100 guests, per Page Six. Attendees received a gift from the couple, reported by the outlet to be a champagne flute adorned with diamonds, handed out in black velvet boxes with the couple's initials on them. The boxes also reportedly came with a piece of fabric printed with an image from the their engagement wrapped around it.

Kelce popped the question to Swift in August 2025 in a beautiful floral garden.

They shared pictures from the moment on Instagram with the caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” a nod to their respective careers.

The romance began back in the summer of 2023 after Kelce attended Swift’s Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium, which they joked about during her appearance on his “New Heights” podcast in August 2025.

Kelce’s attempt to get her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it was intercepted and Swift said he “made it everyone’s problem.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at Dolby Theatre on March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

He brought it up on an episode of “New Heights” at the time, and shortly after that, they did meet.

"This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell," she told Time Magazine for her Person of the Year cover story at the end of 2023.

"We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I'm grateful for, because we got to get to know each other."

They didn’t go public until the fall of 2023 when she was seen attending a Chiefs game with Travis’ mom, Donna Kelce.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs (L) celebrates with Taylor Swift after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

"By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple," she told Time. "I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date."

Swift became a fixture at Kelce’s games, including Super Bowls, and Kelce was a regular at her Eras Tour stops around the world. Kelce even made a surprise appearance on stage during the London Eras Tour in June 2024 for the “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” transition.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE (NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE)) EXCLUSIVE ACCESS. Taylor Swift is joined on stage by Travis Kelce (R), during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Wembley Stadium on June 23, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )

Even with those public appearances, the couple has remained largely private, hence the wild speculation about the actual wedding date and location.

They still haven’t walked a red carpet together, though they did make their award show debut as a couple at the iHeartRadio Awards in March, where they shared a kiss.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

'Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty,' Trump warns in holiday speech

 JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JULY 04: U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he steps off of Air Force One on July 04, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump traveled to South Dakota for a rally and fireworks show at Mount Rushmore to mark the 250th Independence Day holiday. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

KEYSTONE, S. D. (TNND) — President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. faces what he called a renewed threat from Communism, arguing that the ideology is a "menace" and poses a greater danger to the country than past wars and terrorist attacks, including 9/11.

During a Fourth of July address at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, which marked a celebration of America's 250th birthday, Trump said the nation is confronting a resurgence of Communist ideas decades after the nation emerged victorious from the Cold War.

"As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack," Trump said on Friday night, arguing that some newcomers to the nation, as well as others, have embraced ideas "totally opposed to our way of life."

Trump distinguished his criticism from "mere political disagreements," saying debates over taxes or government regulations are different from what he described as the threat posed by Communism.

"Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty," Trump said.

"It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War 2, Pearl Harbor, or even 9/11," he added. "We're not going to let this happen to us. Believe me, we're not letting it happen. Because Communism is the enemy of free people. Everywhere, everywhere in the world -- (it) never works. It's the enemy of the Constitution. Above all, it's the enemy of July 4th, 1776. It is the enemy indeed."

Trump's remarks came after a series of recent primary victories by candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a socialist, intensified debate over the growing influence of the Democratic Party's progressive wing.

His comments echoed themes he has frequently raised during speeches and campaign appearances, where he has warned that left-wing political movements threaten American freedoms and democratic institutions.

Trump visited Mount Rushmore to kick off the start of Independence Day celebrations, as well as honor America's 250th birthday.

"At 250 years, America is the oldest republic on Earth. We are the freest people on Earth," Trump said before a fireworks display at the memorial.

"We have the most righteous and enduring Constitution on Earth. We are the strongest and most powerful country on Earth," he added. "And by the grace of God, the United States of America is the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history and it is great to be your President."

'Summer's Last Resort's' Sophia Bush, Jerry O'Connell embarrassed by parents growing up

 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: (L-R) Jerry O'Connell, Sophia Bush and Violet McGraw attend the 2026 Fox Upfront at New York City Center on May 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

“Summer’s Last Resort” stars Sophia Bush, Jerry O’Connell and Violet McGraw have at least one thing in common: embarrassing parents!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 14: Sophia Bush attends Global Citizen NOW 2026 at Spring Studios on May 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Tubi’s “Summer’s Last Resort” follows Millie (Bush), who falls for her daughter Summer’s (McGraw) Vice Principal (O’Connell), and they take a summer vacation where Summer secretly tries to break the couple up.

PauseRewind’s Kevin Zelman caught up with the cast who shared the ways their parents embarrassed them growing up, much like the movie.

Sophia Bush recalls, “I will never forget before I went to my first house party in high school, thinking, ‘Oh, we're so cool.’ And my mom sat me down, and was like, 'I partied at Studio 54, you think you're gonna get away with anything with me?’ And I was just like, ‘Yes, ma'am, okay, yes, of course.’ My little teenage brain was like, ‘And I shan't try to get anything past her,’ which probably worked out for me on the other side.”

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: Jerry O'Connell attends Universal Fan Fest Nights Opening Night Event at Universal Studios Hollywood at Universal CityWalk on April 25, 2025 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Universal Studios Hollywood)

Jerry O’Connell shares the memory of his father breaking up his high school bonfire when Jerry didn’t come to his dad’s car quickly enough to be taken home.

“I was at a beach party, I was a teenager, I was trying to hook up with other teenagers,” the “Stand By Me” star shared. “My father was supposed to pick me up. This is before I had a license, and I wasn't meeting him in the parking lot, and he walked all the way to the bonfire, and like all the kids scattered, and my father in the middle of the bonfire yelled, 'Jerry, the luau is over!' and I had to, like, come out of the bushes and, like, walk off with my dad.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: Violet McGraw attends the Toy Story 5 Los Angeles World Premiere at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on June 09, 2026. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

For 15-year-old Violet McGraw, these embarrassing moments are still an occurrence

“I play soccer, right? My dad is very, very supportive, and I love that. Sometimes, if I get fouled by a girl, but it's like, not that obvious, it's like a little push. He’s like, ‘Come on, ref! Come on!’ [] He's the best, passionate,” she said with a laugh.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: (L-R) Jerry O'Connell, Sophia Bush and Violet McGraw attend the 2026 Fox Upfront at New York City Center on May 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

“Summer’s Last Resort” is currently available to stream on Tubi.

Why Europe's top clubs are eyeing Morocco's teenage sensation Bouaddi

 Morocco stole hearts with their run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the north Africans are once again shining on the global stage, although there is one important difference this time - the addition of teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The 18-year-old was the talk of social media following his superb showing in Morocco's tournament opener against Brazil, overshadowing the established opposition midfield duo of Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes.

Both those players featured in the Premier League last season and after becoming one of the stars of the opening weeks of the World Cup, Lille midfielder Bouaddi is attracting the attention of the biggest clubs in England and Europe.

"Anyone who has watched him at Lille knows his level," former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul tells BBC Sport. "He is regarded as a top prospect.

"Against players like Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, he showed not just quality but personality - a kind of positive arrogance. He had confidence, a great aura and a strong presence on the pitch. He thrives in that environment."

The 6ft 1in midfielder's eye-catching performances mean he is being monitored by the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain.

City have already agreed a club-record deal to sign England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m, and could further bolster their midfield with the addition of Bouaddi.

Sources have told BBC Sport the youngster features on City's list of targets and Kachloul feels Lille may have to sell to the highest bidder "if the player wants to move".

Moroccan football journalist Amine el Amri tells BBC Sport: "It is natural that a player that is having such a good World Cup is being linked with big clubs.

"However, that makes it a delicate period in his development because he needs to keep his feet on the ground and not to be taken out of his context - he is 18 years old.

"Premier League clubs are now targeting younger players, it is not just about experience, it is how good you are in terms of footballing skill. It is also about physicality so I think he has got all those attributes."

So what are Bouaddi's qualities and what would he add to the City midfield?

• Man City interested in signing Morocco star Bouaddi

  Published
  4 days ago

• The maths whizz turned teen star who chose Morocco over France

  Published
  19 June

'Potential to be one of the best midfielders ever'

The youngster, born just north of Paris in Senlis, made his debut for Lille aged 16 years and three days and has gone on to make a total of 96 appearances for the French club.

Bouaddi, who only made his Morocco debut in May, has featured three times at the World Cup so far, helping the side to the last-16 stage, where they will face Canada on Saturday (kick-off 18:00 BST).

On his tournament debut against five-time winners Brazil he caught the eye with his calmness on the ball - he managed more touches (87) and completed more accurate passes (60) than any other team-mate.

"He has the potential to be one of the best midfielders ever in the game, not just for Morocco," says El Amri. "He has such talent but he has to keep his cool and his feet on the ground. You can't be a star if you don't work hard enough.

"At first glance, he reminds you a lot of [former Spain and Barcelona midfielder] Sergio Busquets. He is very tall but also not very muscular. Normally you would get players with muscles in the number six or eight position.

"What he does best is keep his cool when he has the ball and when he is pressing. He doesn't commit a lot of fouls, which is what made Busquets a complete midfielder."

Bouaddi highlighted his prospects last season by leading the way in numerous metrics for players aged 18 or under across Europe's big five leagues.

He played the most minutes (2,329) and made the most appearances (30) - more than the likes of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, Werder Bremen centre-back Karim Coulibaly and Wolves' Mateus Mane.

His energetic, all-action performances saw him top the rankings for players among his age category by winning possession 151 times, making a total of 59 tackles and 27 interceptions.

Lille have reportedly set an asking price of between £69m and £86m for Bouaddi, which is seemingly the going rate now for a top-class midfielder, something highlighted by City's impending club-record acquisition of England's Anderson.

Enzo Maresca's side were interested in signing Sandro Tonali too, but the Italy international has agreed to join Tottenham instead, while there are question marks over the long-term future of Rodri, who has entered the final year of his contract at City.

Bouaddi may be the solution going forward but the player's immediate aim will be to help his country go one better than their achievement four years ago, when they reached the last four of the World Cup before being beaten by France.

El Amri adds: "Everybody loves Bouaddi in Morocco. Not just because he is such a good player but off the field he is - as we say - the perfect son in law.

"He gained his high school diploma in mathematics and physics which shows the intelligence and IQ of this player.

"He has got what it takes to be not only be a fantastic player but a very good human being too and people in Morocco identify with that."

Tactical analysis: The ability to cover two positions

By

Umir Irfan

Football tactics correspondent

Bouaddi is a player mature beyond his young age.

With Maresca typically setting up his sides in a 3-2-2-3 shape on the ball, looking at what a player offers in this formation helps us make sense of transfer links.

Bouaddi is versatile, playing most of his minutes as a holding midfielder. His ability to remain composed under pressure before dribbling out of tight situations has helped Morocco dominate possession at this World Cup.

His game is centred on deceptive feints rather than raw pace and combined with his tall frame results in a certain elegance reminiscent of John Stones or the aforementioned Busquets.

He is aggressive in his pressing which can leave space behind him. Positional discipline may be something Maresca looks to refine in his game but Bouaddi's long legs help him win tackles impressively.

The Moroccan youngster has also played at right-back, an area City are looking to strengthen. Maresca has shown a preference for full-backs inverting into midfield in possession.

He would therefore provide good cover defending as a right-back before moving into a holding midfield position at Manchester City.