Washington, D.C. — Conservative media powerhouse Ben Shapiro will headline a “Freedom at 250” rally at George Washington’s Mount Vernon on August 6, 2026, as part of a national tour marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The event, organized by Young America’s Foundation (YAF) in partnership with The Daily Wire, will serve as the opening program for YAF’s 48th annual National Conservative Student Conference, a premier gathering of college students held in Washington, D.C. Conference registration opened Monday, March 9.
Shapiro said in a statement:
“At a time when many Americans are uncertain about the country’s direction, gathering at George Washington’s Mount Vernon for our country’s 250th anniversary is a powerful reminder that this nation was forged in challenge, not comfort. It was built by men and women who risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to secure rights given by God and protected by the Constitution. At pivotal moments, America has always faced a choice: decline or renewal. Young America’s Foundation is helping ensure the next generation understands those founding principles and is prepared to defend them. If we recommit to freedom, virtue, and constitutional government, the next 250 years can be even stronger than the first.”
The Mount Vernon rally will be the third stop on the “Freedom at 250” tour. The year-long, nationwide tour in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding brings The Daily Wire’s juggernaut media brand together with YAF’s six decades of experience shaping America’s future by engaging young people with the principles of freedom and equipping them to rise to positions of influence in media, entertainment, government, law, education, and the private sector.
Governor Scott Walker, President of Young America’s Foundation and 45th Governor of Wisconsin, said:
“As America approaches its 250th anniversary, there is no more fitting place to gather than George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and no better person to deliver this message to young Americans than a fearless fighter like Ben Shapiro. This will be the largest National Conservative Student Conference in Young America’s Foundation’s history, and that is fitting. At a time when our founding principles are under pressure and the direction of our country is being fiercely debated, it has never been more important for YAF to shape the next generation in the spirit of Washington and the other Founding Fathers. By bringing these young leaders together at the home of our first President, we are making it clear that the future of this nation will be led by those who understand, defend, and advance the timeless principles of 1776.”
YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference, now in its 48th year, features an all-star lineup of leading conservative activists, media figures, and public officials educating and inspiring the next generation in the heart of our nation’s capital.
The conference will take place August 6 to 8, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Students can register here.
