(FILES) A hat reading "United States of America, 250th Anniversary" sits in front US President Donald Trump during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2026. Whatever its means, the "American dream" still offers hope to millions of people who believe the United States is a place where anyone can succeed, no matter the odds. As the country celebrates 250 years since independence, many Americans and immigrants know the daily reality of chasing that dream through countless disappointments and endless striving. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)