RUSSIA PERSPECTIVE

Moscow, July 5, 2026. Russian coverage of the 250th American anniversary combined a formal diplomatic gesture with clinical observation of incidents that marred Washington's festivities.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent a letter of congratulations to the American people, expressing hope that "Russia and the United States are capable of achieving significant results" provided they build "honest dialogue in a spirit of equality, mutual respect, and non-interference in internal affairs." Sputnik highlighted this conciliatory tone, while RT documented the disruptions in the celebrations.

The TASS agency reported the cancellation of the national parade in Washington, with organizers citing extreme heat: temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius in the capital, forcing Ronald Reagan Airport to suspend flights through July 5. In the evening, a storm triggered a chaotic evacuation from the National Mall, leaving thousands of spectators unable to return to their seats. Trump nevertheless delivered his address—"There is no way we get stopped"—before a largely sparse crowd.

From Mount Rushmore, Trump denounced "a resurgence of the communist threat," comparing it to the two world wars and 9/11, and proclaimed that the United States represents "the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation that has ever existed in human history." RT juxtaposed these statements with a Gallup poll showing that only 58 percent of American adults describe themselves as "extremely" or "very" proud to be American—the lowest level since 2001.

RT also revisited historical accounts of the Russian Empire's role in American survival: Catherine II's Armed Neutrality policy during the War of Independence, followed by the dispatch of a naval squadron during the Civil War—a history that RT suggested Washington had erased from its commemorations.

Finally, RT analyzed enthusiasm in Eastern Europe for July 4—Prague illuminating the Cerning Palace in American colors, Bucharest assembling its political class at the U.S. Embassy—viewing this as a reflection of "collective inferiority complex," supported by Pew Research data: 86 to 90 percent of Poles approve of American policy, more than Americans themselves.