Founding Father and third U.S. president (1801–1809).
The White House has released a July Fourth report criticizing the Smithsonian’s portrayal of American history as biased toward activism. President Trump has issued an executive order directing sidewalk signs outside the Smithsonian and a temporary exhibit to present what he calls accurate information, while Smithsonian leadership defends ongoing scholarship and a fuller account of the nation’s story.
The White House perimeter and visitor screening plans are advancing, with Lafayette Park fencing and an underground screening facility under review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Officials say the upgrades aim to improve safety for visitors and staff as security concerns persist following recent assassination attempts.
The Department of State has begun issuing Patriot Passports, featuring a living president’s portrait, at 27 passport offices nationwide. In-person applications are required on designated days; the gold-embossed interior shows the president’s signature. The move follows a wave of high-visibility tributes to the president, including coins and potential currency signatures.
Randall Lane has been dismissed as Forbes’ chief content officer after it emerged he received a payment from RJ Shook of Shook Research. The payment, described by Lane as a gift, raises conflict-of-interest concerns amid Forbes’ editoral standards. The Times and AP report describe Lane’s resignation and the company’s stance, while broader public trust in media is noted.
SpaceX has pledged $100 billion to build a 125,000‑acre Starbase in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, that it says will support thousands of Starship launches a year, add about 3,000 direct jobs and include propellant production, power generation and deep‑water shipping. Construction is scheduled to start in 2027; SpaceX targets initial launches by 2029 while state officials give a 2030 timeline.
Trump has replaced the Oval Office lawn with a white stone patio, installing statues of American founders in the Rose Garden area. The installations, some gift or loaned, include Jefferson, Washington, Hamilton, Franklin and a sculpture named Freedom’s Charge, with broader renovation plans underway.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delivered a speech at the Acropolis urging Western nations to reclaim classical values, rebuild industry and defence, and pursue an "unapologetic" national power. He has linked the rhetoric to warnings about Iran and called on Europe to strengthen alliances and reindustrialise amid rising geopolitical competition.