THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

How Trump has used the presidency to benefit himself and his allies President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives at the White House, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump are pictured at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Specialist Michael Pistillo works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) PresidentDonald Trumptried to create a near$1.8 billion fundthat could be funneled to his supporters as a means of settling a lawsuit he filed against his own government — even arguing that he “gave up a lot of money in allowing” it. After drawing outcry inCongressand thecourts, however, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers on Tuesday that the administration was scrapping plans to create the fund. That potentially means the suit — and the possibility that the president could still cash in — might be back on. Trump hasn’t been shy about turning the presidency into a major source of personal benefit, involving everything from merchandising deals to crypto ventures to high-dollar political and offic…

America split from monarchy 250 years ago. Trump's presidency is ... Banners, one of President George Washington that reads “America’s First,” left, and another of President Donald Trump that reads, “America First,” are pictured at the Department of the Interior, Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Donald Trump wraps up his speech at the opening of the Great American State Fair, Wednesday, June 24, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is seen, Monday, June 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) A U.S. Marine patrols outside of a federal building, June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) A giant portrait of President Donald Trump looks down from the Justice Department in Washington, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off witha campaign-style rallyon the National Mall byPresident Donald Trump, whose face alreadystares down from bannersfluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican p…

Donald Trump pulled off the ultimate comeback. See how we got here Donald Trump appears with his wife, Melania, and son Barron at his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Will Lanzoni/CNN) Donald Trump pulled off the ultimate comeback. See how we got here By Michael Williams, CNN Published November 7, 2024 Donald Trump appears with his wife, Melania, and son Barron at his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Will Lanzoni/CNN) Four years ago, Donald Trump was a man facing defeat. A grueling campaign against former Vice President Joe Biden for a second term in the White House, taking place amid the Covid-19 pandemic, was dragging into the late hours of Election Day. As the country and the world waited anxiously to see whether Trump would be gracious as the votes were counted — or at least careful in his rhetoric at a precarious moment for the country — the president took the stage at the White House and proved that he would not go quietly. “We were getting ready to win this election,” he said. Trump holds vote tabulations as he speaks at the White House on November 4, 2020. After Election Day came and went without a known winner, Trump attacke…

Trump sworn in as 47th president, declares 'America's decline is over' ELECTIONS Donald Trump Add Topic Donald Trump sworn in as 47th president, declares 'America's decline is over' Joey Garrison Zac Anderson USA TODAY Updated Jan. 20, 2025, 3:50 p.m. ET WASHINGTON − Donald Trump was sworn in Monday as the 47th president of the United States, returning to the White House after overcoming four criminal indictments and two assassination attempts in one of the most remarkable political comebacks in U.S. history. Trump recited the oath of office shortly after noon ET at an intimate inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol rotunda, the same building a mob of his supporters stormed four years ago to try to stop the certification of Trump's 2020 election loss. The ceremony was moved indoors because of below-freezing temperatures in the nation's capital. Trump, 78, raised his right hand and took the oath of office using a Bible his mother gave him in 1955 that was stacked on a second Bible used by President Abraham Lincoln for his swearing-in in 1861. JD Vance was sworn in as vice president right before Trump. "The golden age of America begins right now," Trump said in a roughly 30-minute…

America split from monarchy 250 years ago. Donald Trump's presidency is ... 250th anniversary attorney general D. John Sauer Department of Justice Ezra Levin imperial John Yoo Julian Zelizer Kennedy Center King Charles III King George III National Mall No Kings President Donald Trump U.S. Supreme Court 'The presidency today, even when colored by President Trump’s worst excesses, is not a monarchy.' The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump , whose face already s tares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign . Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his p ersonal lawyers to serve as attorney general , ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest cit…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

New book details Trump's push to test the limits of executive power President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One after attending the G7 summit in France, Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) WASHINGTON (AP) — Showing off towering new flagpoles he had erected on the White House North and South Lawns last summer, PresidentDonald Trumpsuggested that he wanted to make similar renovations in his first term but was worried about the negative press. “You guys were after me,” he told reporters. “I was the hunted. And now I’m the hunter.” The incident, recalled in “Regime Change,” New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s new book on the first year of Trump’s second term, encapsulates how different Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 has been from his first term. The book spells out a thesis that Trump himself believes: Had he not lost the 2020 election, he would not be as powerful in his second term as he is now — emboldening him to trample norms,dismantle established institutionsandpush the limits of presidential power. Trump stillfalsely claims to have won in 2020. But a second term coming then might have…

Donald J. Trump | The White House Navigate this Section Select George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren William Henry Harrison John Tyler James K. Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James Garfield Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren G. Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard M. Nixon Gerald R. Ford James Carter Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush William J. Clinton George W. Bush Barack Obama Donald J. Trump Joseph R. Biden Jr. The biography for President Trump and past presidents is courtesy of the White House Historical Association. Donald John Trump was born in Queens, New York, on June 14, 1946. His father, Fred Trump was a successful real estate developer. Trump was educated at the New York Military Academy and the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

Trump's Distorted View of Sovereignty and American Exceptionalism Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The new administration’s retreat from global institutions and agreements is self-defeating. President Donald Trump’sinaugural addressand busy first days in office signal a determination to reassert American sovereignty and opt out of arrangements that he perceives to threaten it. His claims and executive orders, however, reflect a distorted understanding of the true meaning of sovereignty and a crimped view of how best to advance U.S. interests in an age of global interdependence. The president may ground his rejection of international organizations and agreements in the language of American exceptionalism, but the “exemptionalist” policies he advocates will leave the United States defenseless against problems that don’t carry passports and cede the diplomatic field to nations whose preferences may diverge markedly from U.S. interests and values. In his January 20 address in the Capitol Rotunda, the presidentpromiseda new era of national greatness, grounded in the country’s distinctive identity. “Our sover…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

America split from monarchy 250 years ago. Trump's presidency is ... Audio By Carbonatix The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seek…

Who Is the President of the US? Cabinet, Policies, and Record Administrative and Government Law Who Is the President of the US? Cabinet, Policies, and Record Learn about the current US president, including his background, cabinet, key policies on immigration, trade, and foreign affairs, and how his administration is shaping the country. LegalClarity Team Published Jun 29, 2026 Donald John Trump is the 47th president of the United States, serving his second term after winning the 2024 presidential election . He was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, and his term runs through January 20, 2029. 1 GovTrack. Donald Trump Trump previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, making him one of only two presidents in American history to serve two nonconsecutive terms — the other being Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century. 2 The White House. Donald J. Trump JD Vance serves as vice president. 3 The White House. JD Vance The 2024 Election Trump won the 2024 presidential election on November 5, 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. He secured 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226, comfortably exceeding the 270 needed to win. 4 Federal Election Commission. 2024 Presiden…

8 ways Donald Trump is changing America, from taxes to tariffs GRAPHICS Donald Trump Add Topic Donald Trump's whirlwind year changed America. Here are eight ways. Michael Collins Ramon Padilla USA TODAY Dec. 30, 2025 Updated Dec. 31, 2025, 11:28 a.m. ET Hear this story WASHINGTON – America is different now. In just a few months, President Donald Trump has instituted a series of policies that have been stunning in scope. He ordered the arrest and deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants, sent the National Guard into the streets of some of the nation’s largest cities, and directed the military to blow up boats at sea that his administration suspected of smuggling drugs into the country. He gave tax breaks to the wealthy and cut food stamps and other safety-net programs for the poor, neutered the Department of Education, touched off trade wars with Canada, China and the European Union, and publicly urged the Department of Justice to prosecute adversaries like former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump’s influence on politics is undeniable.The MAGA movement that propelled him to office twice has reshaped the Republican Party. Trump’s …

Who Is The President Of The USA? - All About America As of 2025, the President of the United States is Donald J. Trump, a real estate mogul, television personality, and political outsider who reshaped modern American politics. After a commanding victory in the 2024 election, Trump returned to the White House for a historic second non-consecutive term—becoming the only US president since Grover Cleveland to do so. But Trump is more than just a political figure. He’s a billionaire businessman who built a global brand long before he entered politics. Known for his unapologetically bold style and unfiltered communication, Trump skyrocketed to political prominence in 2016 by breaking nearly every conventional rule of campaigning. His rise captured the attention of voters frustrated by traditional politics—and his presidency has left a lasting imprint on the nation's courts, economy, borders, and international standing. So who is Donald Trump, really? How did he come to lead the country not once, but twice? And what does his return mean for the future of the United States? Take a closer look at the current president’s background, political rise, major accomplishments, and what’s next fo…

The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general, ordered the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, deployed the U.S. Marines to the nation’s second largest city and leveraged the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He has demanded that comedians who mock him be fired, has slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, has pushed to seize control of elections, has filed lawsuits against news organizations whose coverage he disliked and has sued his own government seeking $10 billion in taxpayer money. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stori…

How Donald Trump is weaponizing the government to settle personal ... President Donald Trump listens as first lady Melania Trump repeats a question for him during a dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump listen during a dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trump, once acasino ownerand always a man in search of his next deal, is fond of a poker analogy when sizing up partners and adversaries. “We have much bigger and better cards than they do,” he said of Chinalast month.Compared with Canada, hesaid in June, “we have all the cards. We have every single one.”And most famously, he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in theirOval Office confrontationearlier this year: “You don’t have the cards.” The phrase offers a window into the worldview of Trump, who has spent his second stint in the White House amassing cards to deploy in pursuit of his interests. Seven months into his second term, he has accumulated presidential power that he h…

Donald J. Trump – The White House @realDonaldTrump Donald J. Trump defines the American success story. Throughout his life he has continually set the standards of business and entrepreneurial excellence, especially in real estate, sports, and entertainment. Mr. Trump built on his success in private life when he entered into politics and public service. He remarkably won the Presidency in his first ever run for any political office. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance, Mr. Trump followed in his father’s footsteps into the world of real estate development, making his mark in New York City. There, the Trump name soon became synonymous with the most prestigious of addresses in Manhattan and, subsequently, throughout the world. Mr. Trump is also an accomplished author. He has written more than fourteen bestsellers.  His first book,The Art of the Deal, is considered a business classic. Mr. Trump announced his candidacy for the Presidency on June 16, 2015. He then accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States in July of 2016, having defeated 17 other contenders during the Republican primaries. On November 8, 2016, Mr. Trum…

Donald Trump: Campaigns and Elections | Miller Center Donald Trump: Campaigns and Elections By Benjamin C. Waterhouse Photo: Gage Skidmore Upon his inauguration in 2017, Donald Trump became the first person elected president of the United States who had no prior experience in public service. Most prior presidents had been elected to political offices earlier in their careers. Of those without electoral experience, three had been Army generals (Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, and Dwight Eisenhower) and one, Herbert Hoover, had been Secretary of Commerce among other appointed government positions. Donald Trump’s pre-presidential political experience, by contrast, consisted largely of gaining and nurturing political influence, rather than exercising leadership. According to his biographers, Trump learned to cultivate political relationships with New York City Democratic officeholders from his father, Fred Trump, who used friendships and campaign contributions to gain preferential treatment from the politicians who influenced the rules, regulations, permitting, and tax policies that affected his real estate interests. As a young man, Donald Trump did not display consistent party or …

George W Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Washington: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to become the United States President yet again and he delivered a power-packed victory speech ahead of the formal announcement of US election results 2024. Trump’s speech came as he gained momentum in the race, with early results showing a strong performance in key battleground states, positioning him closer to a potential victory. Trump won Florida, a state that has shifted strongly to Republicans in recent elections. He also secured early wins in traditionally Republican states like Texas, South Carolina, and Indiana, while Harris won Democratic strongholds such as New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The race was very close, with some experts believing Kamala Harris, 60, held a slight lead over Donald Trump, 78, in key states like Pennsylvania. During her campaign, Harris focused on issues that resonated with many voters. As Trump hopes to secure a second term, here is a list of United States Presidents so far. READ MORE: Donald Trump Vs Kamala Harris: Who Won The US Elections 2024? The United States has had 46 presidents, each shaping the nation across vast…

President Donald J. Trump Official Portrait of President Donald J. Trump Donald J. Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York to parents Fred and Mary Trump. He has three older siblings and one younger brother. Trump attended the New York Military Academy and the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania. Following in his father’s footsteps, Trump began a notable career as a real estate developer and businessman. He has written more than fourteen books. His first book, The Art of the Deal , was published in 1987. From 2004 to 2015, Trump hosted and produced the popular television show, The Apprentice . President Trump married his wife, Melania, in 2005. Together they have one son, Barron. Trump also has four adult children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany. He has 10 grandchildren. Trump announced his candidacy for President on June 16, 2015. He accepted the Republican nomination in July of 2016 with Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate. On November 8, 2016, Trump was elected to his first term as President, defeating former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He was inaugurated as the 45th President of the Uni…

President Donald Trump - GovTrack.us President of the United States Trump is President of the United States and is a Republican. He has served since Jan. 20, 2025. Trump’s current term ends on Jan. 20, 2029. He is 80 years old. He was previously President of the United States as a Republican from 2017 to Jan. 20, 2021. Elections must be decided by counting votes Our work to hold Congress accountable only matters if elections are decided by counting votes. During the conclusion of the 2020 Presidential Election in which President Trump lost, Trump, his advisors and associates, and Republican legislators collaborated in a failed coup attempting to keep Trump in power by quashing certified vote totals. Trump facedcriminal charges in Georgia state courtin 2022, for his role in the submission of a fraudulent slate of presidential electors to the United States Congress for certification on January 6, 2021 and for making false statements about illegal voti…

President Donald J. Trump - The White House 45th & 47th President of the United States After a landslide election victory in 2024, President Donald J. Trump is returning to the White House to build upon his previous successes and use his mandate to reject the extremist policies of the radical left while providing tangible quality of life improvements for the American people. This includes putting a stop to endless wars, defending our nation’s borders, and unleashing the potential of the American economy, affording ALL Americans the opportunity to pursue THEIR version of the American dream. In his first administration, President Trump passed record-setting tax cuts and regulation cuts, achieved energy independence, replaced NAFTA with the United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, invested $2 trillion to completely rebuild the Military, launched the Space Force, obliterated the ISIS Caliphate, achieved a major breakthrough for peace in the Middle East, passed the most significant Veterans Affairs reforms in half a century, confirmed over 250 federal judges, including 3 Supreme Court Justices, signed bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform, lowered drug prices, protected Medicare and Soci…

Trump's presidency tests how far America has come since monarchy split Banners, one of President George Washington that reads “America’s First,” left, and another of President Donald Trump that reads, “America First,” are pictured at the Department of the Interior, Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) By Associated Press PUBLISHED: June 29, 2026 at 10:51 AM CDT | UPDATED: June 29, 2026 at 3:21 PM CDT Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By NICHOLAS RICCARDI The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump , whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign . Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general , ordered the Department of Justice …