This July 4th marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. On that day, several former U.S. presidents made public statements. Among them, Hillary Clinton's stance was the most serious and her words were the most forceful, and it was considered an indirect criticism of the Trump administration.
On that day, Clinton published a statement on the X platform titled "Statement on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States and the State of the Nation." The statement read, "Today, we celebrate this milestone during another period of profound division. The future of the United States and its role in the world are once again questioned, and our own system and democracy itself face serious threats."
Clinton criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies and its war against Iran: "Powerful figures have sent masked agents into American communities to arrest people from homes, workplaces, and streets. They launched a unconstitutional war out of impulse, without a clear goal or exit strategy."
Clinton also accused the Trump administration of “arming the government”. She stated, “With the help of lifetime Supreme Court justices and obedient Congress, they are arming the government to settle personal grudges, prosecute political enemies, suppress freedom of speech, and turning the federal government into a new profit center for themselves and their allies.”
This was not our first time on the brink of a turning point. Clinton cited major reforms in American history, referring to the founding fathers as being highly insightful, "knowing that America will never be perfect, but always able to become better."
"Bush urged, ‘For the next 250 years, Americans should be citizens, not observers.’ In a statement, Bush, who belongs to the Republican Party, reminded Americans that if they were dissatisfied with the direction of the country's development, they could express their will through voting and added, 'Democracy can self-correct.'"
Obama shared a video of his previous speech, calling on people to “trust the government's checks and balances, as well as the accountability brought about by independent justice and strong media freedom; to believe that power can be peacefully transferred after people express their opinions through fair and free elections.”
Obama said, "The United States is a country that continues to develop and progress. Each generation must carry on the unfinished work of the previous generation and carry it forward—to defend justice, correct mistakes, and make our federal system more perfect."
In contrast, Biden’s stance was the most calm and gentle.
He reviewed America’s founding principles, emphasizing that the United States is “the only nation in history that was founded not on race, bloodline, or geography, but on an idea.”
"I don't believe we should be split the way others say. My entire life has been focused on America, and I will not stop now." Biden said his last wish, "Happy birthday to America, 250 years old! Our story is not over yet. Let us continue writing it together."
Amid the doubts and distrust in many countries around the world, the United States celebrated its 250th birthday. President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the celebration event on the evening of the 4th, stating that during his first term in office, he rebuilt a strong military force, demonstrated military power during his current term, and achieved “great success” in Venezuela and Iran. He also said, “The dawn of America’s golden age has just begun.”
However, various media outlets believe that the United States is currently facing multiple challenges, including domestic political polarization, severe social divisions, and a decline in global leadership.
A recent poll by Reuters shows that 38% of respondents believe that the United States may no longer exist as a unified nation in 250 years.
According to polls, the proportion of Americans who consider the United States to be the “greatest country in the world” is declining. This percentage has fallen from 38% ten years ago to 30%. The proportion of Democrats holding this view has dropped from 26% to 11%, while the proportion of Republicans remains at around 60%.
