Presumptuous Politics

 

French sailing training ship Belle Poule sails past the Statue of Liberty during the Sail 4th 250 Parade of Ships in New York Harbor in New York, on July 4, 2026.

A fleet of tall ships from around the world joined together near the shores of New York and New Jersey for the biggest Fourth of July celebration in New York City history, marking the 250^th anniversary of American independence.

On Saturday, millions drew to the Hudson River and the Port of New York and New Jersey to witness the largest ever international flotilla for Sail4^th 250.

The celebration included vessels from several nations, such as:

• 30 Class A Tall Ships;
• 30 Class B Tall Ships;
• Navy, Coast Guard, Government, and International vessels;
• More than 120 aircraft led by the Blue Angels;
• 15,000 U.S. and foreign sailors.

20 foreign nations were represented among tall ships and 44 nations were represented in the New York Harbor.

Countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom were represented.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle, which was acquired as a war reparation from Nazi Germany and has been sailed by every Coast Guard Academy cadet, led the parade of ships. The Eagle carried a historical print copy of the Declaration of Independence, according to the Sail4^th 250 Facebook page.

Vessels from the U.S. Navy fleet were also anchored in the Hudson River for a Naval Review, including:

• USS Arlington;
• USS Kearsarge;
• USS Iwo Jima;
• USS Farragut;
• USS Nitze;
• USS Jason Dunham.

Vice President JD Vance participated in the Naval Review, even personally swearing in new Navy Sailors aboard the USS Kearsarge in the Hudson.

Before the main parade, an aircraft parade flew in formations, trailing red, white and blue over the river and the Verrazano Bridge.

“Nearly 250 years ago, it was here at Sandy Hook that George Washington’s army drove the British from New Jersey,” said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), a former naval officer. “It was from this day that the last British ships of the Revolutionary War departed.”

Sherrill said the inclusion of the international vessels has a deep meaning to the U.S.

“America never fights alone because we fight alongside our friends and allies,” Sherrill said. “Today, it’s a joy to be here to celebrate with all of our allies and friends.”

“Fifty years ago, people lined the Hudson to cheer [on] hundreds of ships from around the world,” she said, referring to the country’s 1976 bicentennial celebration. “This week, millions will turn out again for another massive boat parade, united by a shared love of country, pride in our history and hope for the future.”