UNITED STATES PERSPECTIVE

Washington, July 4, 2026. On its 250th anniversary—the "semiquincentennial"—the United States celebrated with pageantry while exposing its internal fractures. On the National Mall, Donald Trump described America as a "masterpiece" and declared himself "prouder than ever," before a thunderstorm forced evacuations midway through his speech. The day confirmed what many observers noted: this 250th anniversary does not belong to all Americans in the same way.

In Washington, the White House orchestrated a celebration reflecting its occupant: a UFC fight on the South Lawn, a series of concert cancellations—with the Transportation Secretary calling reluctant artists "libtards"—and a speech on the Mall that played more like a political rally than a civic gathering. Progressive media drew parallels to the 1976 bicentennial under Nixon, noting that tensions between presidential vision and popular celebrations are not new to American history.

From Rome, an unexpected American voice entered the conversation. Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff and a native of Chicago, sent a solemn letter to his nation of origin, calling it to uphold the tradition of "welcoming, protecting, and assisting immigrants, whose hopes and contributions have been part of this nation's story since its origins." The pope, who has previously described the administration's immigration policy as "inhumane," also hailed religious freedom as "central to the American promise."

On the cultural opposition front, dozens of celebrities—Mark Ruffalo, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ted Danson—released a video reciting passages from historian Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny." Snyder himself warned that this November's midterm elections represent "a turning point for the Republic."

On the international stage, tributes poured in from around the globe. King Charles III saluted "a moment of great celebration for all Americans." Paris lit the Eiffel Tower in red, white, and blue as a "sincere tribute" to "friendship between our two nations since the 18th century." Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that the transatlantic partnership "remains essential, particularly in difficult times."

Caught between national pride amplified by the conservative camp and cultural dissent voiced by Hollywood and the Holy See, America's 250th anniversary reflected a nation that no longer speaks with one voice, even when singing its own praises.