Thumbing up to Donald Trump, Taylor Swift gets married on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the United States

Madison Square Garden hasn’t seen such a spectacle since 1974, when funk pioneer Sly Stone married actress Kathy Silva there. One of the most famous pop stars on the planet, Taylor Swift, is preparing to celebrate her nuptials with American football champion Travis Kelce in the New York venue on Friday July 3. On the eve, therefore, of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

After a dinner organized Thursday evening, nearly a thousand guests are expected Friday at Madison Square Garden, from 3 p.m. (9 p.m. in France), according to certain American media, many of which have sent reporters to the city.

Donald Trump launches festivities for the 250th anniversary of the United States this Friday, with a “really long” speech at the foot of Mount Rushmore

Oscar-worthy device

“America doesn’t have royal weddings, but this is probably the closest thing to it”estimates in the New York Times Emma Fitzsimmons, who covers news from the Big Apple for the daily. Consequently, the newspaper deploys, on the ground and in its premises, a system comparable to what the Oscars require.

Singer Stevie Nicks and country musician Tim McGraw are expected to perform for guests – without telephones – at a reception that will last late into the night. Performances by Ed Sheeran and Paul McCartney were also mentioned, reports AFP. Enough to overshadow the festivities planned by Donald Trump for the birthday of the American nation.

The 250th anniversary concert, canceled after a massive withdrawal of expected participants, turned out to be a fiasco. Annoyed, the Republican had castigated “talentless singers with huge fees” and decided to organize a meeting, whose speech should compete in length with those of Fidel Castro. The highlight of the show is a fireworks display billed as the largest in the world, replacing performances by country singer Martina McBride or rocker Bret Michaels. In recent days, Donald Trump urged Americans to come and celebrate the national holiday with him, fearing, by his own admission, not to fill up. He has, it seems, good reason to fear it.

A fair that is not full

Donald Trump thus sponsored a “big fair” on the National Mall in Washington, which stands out above all for its sparse visitors and empty stands. It takes place a stone’s throw from the “reflecting pool”, the Washington basin renovated at great expense and in a hurry and whose restoration turned into a fiasco. He also set up, in mid-June, an evening of MMA fights at the White House.

For now, the nuptials of Taylor Swift, the singer whose numbers can create seismic activity during a concert, are providing media competition to the July 4 festivities. It would be tempting to see this as a snub on the part of the artist, who supported Kamala Harris in 2024. The Republican mogul had harsh words against her during the campaign, before adopting a less vindictive attitude. He should not be invited to the wedding at Madison Square Garden, a venue where he was also booed during a basketball game in early June.