Watch live: Hegseth hosts DC ceremony alongside National Guard to mark America 250

Video Watch live: Hegseth hosts DC ceremony alongside National Guard to mark America 250 Comments: by The Hill Staff - 07/02/26 8:44 AM ET Comments: Link copied by The Hill Staff - 07/02/26 8:44 AM ET Comments: Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will host a ceremony Thursday morning alongside National Guard troops as part of the America 250 celebrations.

The event will highlight the Trump administration’s D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, an initiative aimed at increasing security and beautification efforts in the nation’s capital. It comes as President Trump and his team have faced criticism over proposals — such as a 250-foot triumphal arch and his expensive White House ballroom project — and changes made to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of the July Fourth weekend.

The ceremony at Washington’s Meridian Hill Park is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

Add as preferred source on Google Tags America 250 D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force Defense Department Donald Trump Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool National Guard Pete Hegseth Pete Hegseth Trump administration Trump arch Trump beautification

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Comments: Link copied

More Video News

See All

The Gavel - Live Briefing Supreme Court wraps blockbuster term with Trump rulings by The Hill staff 19 hours ago The Gavel - Live Briefing  /  19 hours ago