President Donald Trump is making plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence and create a new national sculpture garden while reviving efforts to harshly punish those who vandalise or destroy existing statues and monuments. Trump signed an executive order Wednesday establishing a White House task force to plan what he says will be a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence," which the country will celebrate on July 4, 2026. Trump will serve as chair of the task force, which will include a long list of senior administration officials, including cabinet secretaries. The order also revives Trump's plans to build a National Garden of American Heroes with statues memorialising 250 historical figures. Trump first announced plans for what he said would be a new monument to the giants of our past" in a 2020 speech celebrating Independence Day at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. It was to have featured ...