Operational Updates

White House issues presidential message honoring Thomas Edison on his 179th birthday

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Key takeaways

  • The White House published a presidential message on February 11, 2026, marking what would have been Thomas Edison’s 179th birthday.
  • The statement highlights Edison’s biography and achievements, saying he developed more than 1,000 patents and invented the phonograph, motion picture camera, alkaline storage battery, and the incandescent light bulb.
  • The message links Edison’s legacy to current policy goals, saying the administration is “ushering in a new Golden Age of American innovation” through deregulation and “historic tax cuts for small businesses.”
  • The statement emphasizes values of perseverance, experimentation, and entrepreneurship, urging Americans to “dare to dream big” and celebrating outsiders who “change the world.”

Follow Up Questions

What is America 250 and what does this White House initiative do?Expand

America 250 (also written America250) is the official, nationwide commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary (the Semiquincentennial). It is led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (created by Congress) in partnership with the nonprofit America250.org, Inc.; the initiative funds and coordinates public programs, civic-engagement projects, volunteer drives (e.g., “America Gives”), educational initiatives, and local/state partnerships to engage Americans through 2026 and beyond.

Who is referenced by “My Administration” in this message (which President/administration issued it)?Expand

“My Administration” refers to the presidential administration of President Donald J. Trump — the message was published on the White House website during his administration.

Which specific deregulation actions and small-business tax cuts does the statement refer to?Expand

The White House message does not list specifics; publicly announced actions tied to the administration’s deregulatory and small‑business tax agenda include Executive Order 14192 (“Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” Jan. 31, 2025) — a 10‑for‑1 regulatory rollback and regulatory‑cost budgeting directive — and major tax legislation passed in 2025 described by the White House as historic small‑business tax cuts (commonly referred to in administration materials as the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”), which extended and expanded business tax provisions from prior law. The White House materials describe these as the deregulatory EO and the 2025 tax law; the presidential message itself does not specify more detail.

Is “Golden Age of American innovation” an official program or branding with specific policies attached?Expand

“Golden Age of American innovation” in the White House message is rhetorical branding, not the name of a single statutory program; the phrase is used to frame the administration’s innovation and economic agenda (deregulation, tax changes, AI/tech priorities) rather than a discrete codified program with its own laws listed in the statement.

The message cites Edison’s “more than 1,000 patents” — where can I verify that number and learn more about his patents?Expand

Thomas Edison is widely credited with holding more than 1,000 U.S. and foreign patents. Verifiable primary/curatorial sources include the Thomas A. Edison Papers (Rutgers/Library of Congress), the Library of Congress and Smithsonian/encyclopedic references; the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office holds individual patent records. For an overview, see the Thomas A. Edison Papers and authoritative museum/library summaries that document his ~1,000+ patents.

When the statement calls on “outsiders” to change the world, does that reflect a particular policy toward entrepreneurs, startups, or immigrants?Expand

The phrase about “outsiders” is rhetorical encouragement; the statement does not lay out a specific new immigration or entrepreneur‑policy. Publicly, the administration has emphasized policies favorable to entrepreneurs (deregulation, tax law changes, and small‑business programs) but the Edison message itself is a call to cultural support for risk‑taking rather than a description of a distinct new immigration or startup policy.

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