President Donald Trump is being accused of ‘hijacking’ the celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary.

Opponents say he is using events around July 4 – commemorating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 – to promote his political agenda.

On Friday, the White House released an image of a new limited edition ‘Patriot Passport’ which contains a striking image of Mr Trump leaning over the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and surrounded by text from the Declaration of Independence.

Next Friday, July 3, he will give a speech at Mount Rushmore – the granite cliff in South Dakota carved with the heads of previous presidents.

Opponents contend that Donald Trump is leveraging events marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 to further his political agenda

Thousands gathered for the event celebrating the country’s 250th birthday to listen to President Donald Trump

July 4, sees a rally in Washington’s National Mall featuring military flypasts and climaxing with a giant firework display over the White House. 

But Californian Democratic congressman Jared Huffman said: ‘He is trying to hijack the country’s 250th anniversary.’

Musicians have also pulled out of a planned concert, saying they had been ‘misled’ about the political nature of the event. 

But a Trump source dismissed criticism as ‘sour grapes’, adding: ‘Donald Trump will definitely be front and centre because he’s the President.’