WASHINGTON (AP) — When the nonprofit organization planning America's 250th birthday celebrations decided it wanted an ornament to commemorate that milestone in history, its leadership knew just where to turn for guidance.
America250.org worked with the White House Historical Association, which, since 1981, has sold a popular Christmas tree ornament honoring a president or a key White House anniversary. More than 1 million of those ornaments are now sold every year.
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The front and back of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Jennifer Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, displays the front of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The front and back of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Jennifer Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, displays the front and back of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The two groups worked together to produce a keepsake to mark the anniversary — officially known as the semiquincentennial — and America250.org unveiled it on Monday.
The limited-edition, hand-crafted ornament features the Declaration of Independence, the document the Second Continental Congress used to announce it was breaking away from Britain on July 4, 1776. President Donald Trump has a copy hanging in the Oval Office.
One side of the keepsake features the document printed on linen and the other side shows American flags waving atop the White House and the America250 logo with the years 1776-2026 on a red ribbon. The ornament is trimmed in 24-karat gold.
Organizers say they view the celebration of America’s founding as an opportunity to help unite a politically divided country. “It’s a moment for us to reflect on the last 250 years and, even more importantly, where we’re going for the next 250th,” said Jennifer Condon, executive vice president of America250.org.
Condon said she hopes the ornament will play a small part in that endeavor as “a symbol of, truly, this unity that we’re trying to strive for.”
It is rare for the White House association to release an ornament outside of its annual holiday series. Stewart McLaurin, the White House association’s president, said his nonprofit organization had helped create a collector’s piece “that embodies the spirit and history of our nation.”
It is made by the veteran-owned Rhode Island company that produces the White House association’s ornaments, and will be sold exclusively starting Monday at America250.org for $26.95, and in January on the White House association's website.
The front and back of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Jennifer Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, displays the front of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The front and back of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Jennifer Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, displays the front and back of a commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A commemorative ornament released by America250 as part of events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is photographed Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
PROVO, Utah (AP) — The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus was back in court Friday as a state judge denied some efforts by his attorneys to limit public access to certain documents while not ruling out the possibility of closing portions of an upcoming hearing.
The outcome sets the stage for an April hearing in which attorneys for Tyler Robinson will make their case to exclude TV cameras, microphones and photographers from the courtroom.
Judge Tony Graf has been weighing the public’s right to know details about the case against concerns by defense attorneys that the media attention could undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial. Prosecutors, Kirk’s widow and attorneys for news organizations have urged Graf to keep the proceedings open.
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson, 22, who is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting of the conservative activist on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. They have said DNA evidence connects Robinson to the killing.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
Attorneys on Friday debated whether the defense's written request to exclude cameras, which was classified by the court as private, should be made public.
Graf said the defense failed to make its case to keep the motion private but that he will continue “balancing all the factors” when deciding which portions of the upcoming hearing may be closed.
Staci Visser, an attorney for Robinson, told the judge that the defense is not arguing in the court of public opinion.
“There seems to be an idea that flooding the public sphere with information from this courtroom will somehow dispel conspiracy theories or shift public narratives. That, in and of itself, is concerning to the defense,” Visser said. “All we should be worried about is protecting what happens in this courtroom.”
Robinson’s defense team went on to say that the April hearing will involve discussions about prejudicial pretrial publicity — for example, evidence that has yet to be admitted, confessions, personal opinions about guilt or public statements that would otherwise be inadmissible in court.
“We don’t want to be in that position of bringing in front of the court all of this prejudicial information and having the press regurgitate it yet one more time, and reinflicting a wound that we’re seeking to avoid,” defense attorney Michael Burt said.
Christopher Ballard, a prosecutor with the Utah County Attorney’s Office, dismissed those arguments. He said careful questioning during jury selection and tools like expanding the jury pool can ensure a defendant gets a fair trial.
“So just saying that this a content tornado or there's been a barrage of media coverage doesn't necessarily mean that there is going to be prejudice to the defendant,” Ballard said.
Ballard noted that most of the evidence that will be discussed at the April 17 hearing is already public, so most of it should be open.
Coalitions of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, are fighting to preserve media access in the case.
Media access has been a focal point of several recent hearings, with the judge placing temporary restrictions on local TV stations for showing Robinson's shackles in violation of a court order and filming close-up shots that might allow viewers to interpret what he was discussing with his attorneys.
The judge also has prevented full video recordings of Kirk’s shooting from being shown in court after defense attorneys argued the graphic footage would interfere with a fair trial. An estimated 3,000 people attended the outdoor rally to hear Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA who helped mobilize young people to vote for President Donald Trump.
Defense attorney Staci Visser, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Prosecuting and defense attorneys and defendant Tyler Robinson, right, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Prosecutor Chad Grunander, center, listens, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Attorney Richard Novak, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing, in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool
Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf presides, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
FILE - Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court, in Provo, Utah, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)
FILE - Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf presides over a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, Feb. 3, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)
