White House announces Washington Monument illumination to kick off America's 250th celebration

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

December 31, 2025, 10:46 PM


President Donald Trump's plans for wide-scale celebrations to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday begin on New Year's Eve with illumination of the Washington Monument on the National Mall, the White House announced Wednesday.

"TONIGHT: The Illumination of America on the Washington Monument kicks off the celebration of America’s 250th birthday year 🇺🇸" an official White House X account posted.


Testing of the Freedom 250 projections lights up the Washington Monument in Washington D.C., on Dec. 30, 2025.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc., via Getty Images

The monument lighting will continue for five nights, as a "projection-mapping spectacle will illuminate the Monument, creating an immersive, luminous canvas that narrates our Nation’s discovery, expansion, independence, and vision for the future," according to Freedom 250, the organization tasked with organizing the nation's birthday celebrations. "This Washington Monument illumination is the opening signature moment of a year-long series of marquee national events celebrating the triumph of the American spirit."

The monument lighting will continue for five nights, as a "projection-mapping spectacle will illuminate the Monument, creating an immersive, luminous canvas that narrates our Nation’s discovery, expansion, independence, and vision for the future," according to Freedom 250, the organization tasked with organizing the nation's birthday celebrations. "This Washington Monument illumination is the opening signature moment of a year-long series of marquee national events celebrating the triumph of the American spirit."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-announces-washington-monument-illumination-kick-off/story?id=128811820

[RoadRunner]

1. Soon to be known as the "Trump and Washington Monument"

Wouldn’t put it past him.

[Ocelot II]

2. We can assume it will include a fulsome homage to Trump.

[MiHale]

3. A totally tasteless display.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. Tall and ERECT!! Unlike TACO!

[C_U_L8R]

5. I've seen carnivals with higher aesthetics.

But I guess the ‘clown show’ look is kinda appropriate.

[Turbineguy]

6. They're not renaming it?

[Polly Hennessey]

7. Good grief! Looks like an advertisement for a car company.

Will this hideous disgusting clown show ever cease?

[gademocrat7]

8. That is hideous

The Washington Monument has been defaced.

[Thomas Hurt]

9. Well that was tacky...in keeping with the Pig's style and class.

[Bayard]

10. I'm sure Pres. George Washington would appreciate the neon

[Mawspam2]

11. BRAWNDO! It's what plants want!