CHINA PERSPECTIVE

Beijing, July 5, 2026. At the National Mall in Washington, Donald Trump transformed the US 250th anniversary into a political platform. His speech, delayed by several hours due to storms that forced temporary evacuation of crowds, mixed exacerbated patriotism with attacks on the 'communist threat.'

'Our American Republic has stood as the crown jewel of human history,' the president declared before tens of thousands. Promising that the United States 'will always be on top,' Trump also stated that communism is 'like a cancer, it must be removed' — a charge that resonates directly in Beijing. The day before at Mount Rushmore, he had denounced 'a resurgence of the communist threat' while targeting the Democratic Party's left wing, whose rise before the midterm elections provided pretext to label his opponents 'communists.'

State broadcaster CGTN published contrasting poll results from 11,521 respondents across 41 countries: in 30 of them, respondents believe the Communist Party of China is better positioned than Western parties to defend national interests over the long term. Additionally, 61.3% of global respondents believe Western multi-party systems favor short-sighted policies — a figure that reaches 61.5% in the United States itself.

The festivities were also disrupted by extreme heat. A heat wave forced cancellation of the National Park Service parade in Washington, with heat indices expected to reach 46 degrees Celsius. The PJM network, serving 67 million people, activated emergency measures. The large fair on the National Mall had already closed Friday when temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius.

These disruptions add to a weak performance for Trump. His approval ratings remain low, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday a sharp slowdown in hiring in June, and his plans for the celebrations — a ball at the White House, ceremonial monuments — contrast with voters' economic concerns.

Among Chinese Americans, the anniversary sparked identity reflection more than patriotic fervor. Young Chinese-American individuals such as Hannah Liu, 23, in New York, said they felt more comfortable with their cultural heritage, but perceived the escalation of US-China tensions as more determinative for their future than any national commemoration.