Patriotism Mocked: Underestimating American Values At Huge Political Cost

I came to Washington, D.C. as a foreign correspondent during the final months of the Nixon administration. I decided to immigrate and eventually became a U.S. citizen. Over the years, I have never lost my fascination with America’s past and continuing struggle to make this a “perfect union.”

From pride and reverence to bombast and pure ego

So it saddens me to observe as a citizen that only a narcissist with no imagination or sense of history would celebrate this proud nation’s 250th anniversary in the vulgar manner Donald Trump has chosen — the event may come be seen as what finally sealed the president’s political fate.

No collection of events could more bluntly show Americans how out of touch Trump is with their values and patriotic emotions than the events that Trump has scheduled through June and July.

By replacing the joy, pride and reverence for our national history with bombast and ego, Trump insults the many millions in towns and cities across the country who see July 4th as a day for parades, flag-waving, fireworks and family barbecues.

Where is the Republicans’ national pride?

Those that should be most offended by the spectacle are Trump’s loyalists, which makes his bizarre plans all the more politically counter-productive.

After all, according to a poll conducted by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the respondents who most see the sesquicentennial as an opportunity to celebrate a proud national milestone​ are those “who find themselves right of center,” including “6 in 10 Republicans (62%), conservatives (64%) and Trump voters (63%), as well as nearly three-quarters (74%) of strong MAGA supporters.”

Overall, the survey found only 37 percent of Americans share this view. No doubt, that figure is so low because of widespread opposition to Trump—and, I believe, disgust with his brazen greed.

Corruption will be one of the most important political issues in the months leading to this November’s mid-term elections. Now, as the Trump celebrations unfold, his twisted values and his disregard for the rule of law will come even more sharply into focus for all Republicans to see.

Birthday caged wrestling

The first stage of the Trump celebrations, occasioned by his June 14th 80th birthday celebration, was a professional “cage fight” on the White House South Lawn.

Then, starting on June 24, there is a month of activities and concerts on the Washington Mall, despite numerous performers and a handful of U.S. states withdrawing in protest at Trump’s hijacking the festivities.

According to Trump’s Truth Social network, the “freedom” festival will now feature President Trump himself as the star celebrity.​ An Indy-car race down Pennsylvania Avenue and up Constitution Avenue will follow, causing traffic chaos, closing museums and, no doubt, proving too dangerous for many spectators to attend.

Predictable oratory

It is not hard to imagine Trump’s grand speech. He will share his own “true” history of the United States. He will make no mention of the 250 years of continued struggle to make the country a better place for all its people.

Neither will his shallow view of the nation’s story recall the many compromises and the fierce fights over the rights of the states that joined to ratify the Constitution.

Trump will also conveniently ignore the Black and Native Americans who fought for the nation’s independence, make no mention of Jim Crow and, in general, act as if the racism that still abounds in the United States does not exist.

He will likely deride the immigrants and the countless millions of non-Christians who have built this powerful and prosperous nation.

Vengeance supreme

In sum total, in the Age of Trump, what sould be a truly festive occasion, the U.S.’s grand 250th anniversary, will be overshadowed by one man’s desire for self-aggrandizement, retribution and vengeance.

At least judges throughout the U.S. court system are indirectly celebrating the nation’s best traditions – by finally standing up for the law and pushing back at some of Trump’s more glaring offenses.

Channeling his inner Napoleon

And yet, count on the fact that this pushback will bring out the worst in this old man who dares to compare himself to Lincoln. Republicans, I hope, will take note of his behavior.

While a halt has been called on construction of Trump’s 1,000-seat White House ballroom and the painting and repairs to the Reflecting Pool are under scrutiny, Trump wants work to start on a 250-foot-high “Arc de Trump” that would mar a historic view of Arlington National Cemetery.

Meanwhile there will be no celebrations at the Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts, as Trump has closed the building for repairs—ticket sales collapsed as soon as he added his own name to the building last year, though it has now been removed following orders from a judge.

Trump’s initial reaction was to claim that he could not care less and may prefer to see the Performing Arts Center collapse.

American optimism can still prevail

As Trump sees – or seeks, one wonders – humiliation to the right and to the left, the needs of his ego mount.

Facing opposition, he will strive to double down. Trump’s enemies list will expand. His madness and vitriol may overshadow the upcoming national celebration. Americans will take note and be repelled.

Conclusion

I was born in the United Kingdom and have now lived in the United States for more that 50 years. I have enjoyed the warmth and generosity of so many good people in this country.

Despite all of today’s troubles, I trust that not even the acts of Trump can do permanent damage to the optimism that I found throughout the land and its people.

Along with many of my fellow Americans, many people around the people hope that the celebrations marking the 250th year of the American Republic will become the turning point back to the good stewardship that made the United States for so long a model to the rest of the world.