This Fourth of July, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence from Britain, a milestone commemorated by the Donald Trump administration with events across the National Mall. However, the anniversary arrives against a backdrop of civil rights rollbacks, immigration crackdowns and strained international relations, leaving some Americans—especially those born on July 4—with mixed feelings about celebrating their birthdays alongside the national holiday.
Personal reflections on a national milestone
Maria Ashot, a 69-year-old writer and Harvard University graduate currently based in Brussels and Barcelona, said she has long identified with the principles of the Declaration of Independence. But this year, she expressed frustration: "Trump has appropriated a significant number… and his utter lack of class & sophistication means all he can come up with is a mass brawl at the White House he has half-demolished." She added, "I am not celebrating with him."
Jo Haemer, a 73-year-old gold and platinum smith in Portland, Oregon, was born in Germany to American parents during the Cold War. She recalled that the bicentennial in 1976 was more meaningful than this year's anniversary, especially "since the onslaught of the corrupt Trump administration." Haemer usually bakes pies and hosts a small gathering for her birthday, but noted that many friends leave town for vacation on July 4.
Comparing 1976 to 2026
Craig Allen, a 71-year-old retired research scientist in Connecticut, fondly remembered seeing the tall ships in Philadelphia during the bicentennial. "I felt a sense of pride in our country's achievements," he said. But this year's milestone "is difficult for me. It feels like the country has lost its way and all the gold plating and cheap gaudy events make me want to head for the woods."
Bill Combs, a 74-year-old retired professor near Bryce Mountain, Virginia, said he always knew the Fourth wasn't about him. "Sure, everyone loves cake and ice cream, picnics, and fireworks," he said. But this year, he added, "I'm not looking forward to observing the Fourth at all. It's become a self-serving, tawdry event that's cheapened the meaning of 'America.' Our 250th anniversary has become a Shakespearean 'tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.'"
MAGA influence and personal conflict
Bertram P Dowd, a graduate student in Arizona whose father was also born on July 4, said he wants to enjoy the festivities but feels conflicted. "The trappings of patriotism have been so thoroughly captured by Trump and MAGA that I want nothing to do with what's actually being done for the anniversary," he said. "Maybe in another fifty years, once the stain of Trump and Trumpism has been washed away, I'll be able to feel proud of America again. But this year, I think I'll go get a hamburger and stay home minding my own business."
Twins and national pride
Brian O'Reilly, a 77-year-old retired journalist on the New Jersey shore, shares his birthday with his identical twin brother. He said the coincidence once reinforced a sense of national pride, but the Vietnam war and Donald Trump have eroded it. "It was more fun to share a birthday with the USA when it was seen as this shining star sixty and 70 years ago," he said. "Donald Trump and his self-centered celebration designed to focus attention on himself this year takes some of the joy out of it all."
Broader political context
Another respondent, a retired university employee in Arlington, Virginia, described the anniversary as "complicated," especially given the stressed political landscape and deep faults in democratic structures. "We have never solved the basic problem of the white elites successfully pedaling the white supremacy buyout to poor whites," she said.
