US President marks 250th anniversary of Virginia Declaration of Rights
The White House issued a message on June 12, 2026, commemorating the 1776 text drafted by George Mason as the first official declaration of individual liberties in the American Colonies.
The US President issued a formal statement on June 12, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The message described the 1776 document, primarily drafted by George Mason, as the first official declaration of individual liberties in the American Colonies and one of the most consequential texts in the history of human freedom.
The statement emphasised the document’s foundational role in shaping American governance, noting its direct influence on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. The President reaffirmed a commitment to preserving the principles of liberty and self-governance established by the text, describing these as enduring pillars of the Republic.
Unanimously proclaimed by Virginia on June 12, 1776, the Declaration was developed at the Fifth Virginia Convention in Williamsburg. Inspired by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, the document asserted that all men are by nature equally free and independent, possessing inherent rights beyond the reach of earthly power. It declared that political power is vested in the people and that government exists to serve citizens, not the other way around.
The text affirmed key structural principles including the separation of powers, checks and balances, freedom of the press, trial by jury, and the free exercise of religion. The President’s message highlighted how these provisions were designed to protect citizens from tyranny and establish a new order of self-governance for a sovereign people.
Historical context provided in the statement noted that Thomas Jefferson drew upon the Declaration’s language while drafting the Declaration of Independence just weeks after its adoption. Years later, James Madison used the document as a blueprint for the Bill of Rights, securing fundamental liberties that the President described as central to America’s status as a beacon of freedom.
The White House briefings confirmed that the anniversary message serves as a renewal of the pledge to defend these principles. The statement concluded by reaffirming the commitment to upholding equal justice under the law and carrying forward the inheritance of freedom for future generations.
