The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has taken part in celebrations in New York marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The aircraft flew in formation over the city’s harbour, leaving red, white and blue vapour trails resembling the US flag. They were joined by a B-2 stealth bomber and the US Navy’s Blue Angels, while a flotilla of tall ships and modern warships sailed past the Statue of Liberty below as part of an international naval review.
British military involvement extended to the Royal Navy’s Band of the Royal Marines, which performed in New York after entertaining crowds in Washington DC earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the King sent his “warmest congratulations” to President Donald Trump and the American people, describing the occasion as “a truly historic milestone and a moment of great celebration for Americans everywhere”.
Speaking on the flightdeck of a naval assault ship in New York, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the participation of other nations amid transatlantic tensions. “We say from the bottom of our hearts, we are grateful for our friends, grateful for our allies on this special anniversary,” he said. Recalling the Revolutionary War, he noted that General George Washington had been in Manhattan 250 years ago, watching for sails of “the most powerful navy on earth” – a reference to the British fleet.
The festivities took place as much of the eastern United States sweltered in extreme heat, with temperatures forecast to reach 38C in New York, 40C in Washington and 42C in Little Rock, Arkansas. Cooling stations and vans staffed by nurses were deployed in New York, while organisers in Washington distributed water and provided medical support. A planned Independence Day parade in the capital was cancelled due to the heat, though aerial demonstrations, including F-22 Raptors and the US Air Force’s Thunderbirds, went ahead.
President Trump promised a record-breaking fireworks display in Washington and was due to address the nation at the National Mall. On the West Coast, a concert in Los Angeles hosted by Queen Latifah featured performances by The Smashing Pumpkins and Chris Stapleton, with Chaka Khan as a special guest, alongside a drone show. However, the anniversary also highlighted political divisions, with the White House-aligned Freedom 250 group competing with the bipartisan America250 organisation, and criticism that Mr Trump was using the milestone for self-promotion.
