Weather wasn’t going to stop anyone from celebrating 250 years of this great Republic! And last night, President Trump proclaimed that “the best is yet to come.” He’s right.

As we look back, 250 years is not a lot of time. Yet this Republic has accomplished so much for this country and for the world. 

It started with our Founders and many colonists realizing that King George and his arbitrary taxations, laws, and quartering soldiers in homes without so much as a by your leave (and at colonists costs), and decided to kick him and England to the curb. Which led to the writing of our amazing Declaration of Independence. 

By 1783, the war was finally over. And the hard work of creating a new government began. Our Constitution was the next great document penned and signed by our Founding Fathers. We advocated for freedom with the Declaration, and our Constitution formed the bedrock that gives US our rights, not the government. This Republic was crafted to only govern with the consent of the governed. What an amazing and wonderful idea that no other country has. 

Furthermore, the right to free speech is one of the great gifts of our Constitution. It is a gift that allows us to celebrate, and allows others to whine about this country. It’s a privilege, a gift, a RIGHT that other countries don’t have and now others such as England are now CENSORING speech. This from the great Frederick Douglas:

No right was deemed by the fathers of the Government more sacred than the right of speech. It was in their eyes, as in the eyes of all thoughtful men, the great moral renovator of society and government. Daniel Webster called it a homebred right, a fireside privilege. Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason of righteousness, temperance, and of a judgment to come in their presence.  

It is that freedom, that striving for more that has led this country to provide so much for the world. Electricity, light, telephones, cross-country railroads, refrigeration, flight, space, music, artistry, books, the list is immense. We are a nation of CAN DO. Not a nation of can’t. 

We are a Republic who has stepped up in wars to keep our freedoms intact, and save others. 

“This country is the home of freedom,” Trump said.

Trump argued the nation is stronger than ever.

“We’re doing better now than we’ve ever done before,” he said. “No people have done more good, showed more courage, made more progress, righted more injustice or achieved more greatness than you, the American people.”

“For 250 years, the United States of America has been the hope, the promise, the light and the glory among all of the nations of the world,” Trump said.

.@POTUS recognizes 107-year-old Navy veteran and D-Day survivor Arthur Rose on Independence Day.

Lt. Rose then stands to salute the flag that flew aboard the first landing craft at Normandy. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/x7LzHJ2Rne

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 5, 2026

Recognizing our military, using historical American flags drives the point home that the ideals and grand experiment of this Republic are worth honoring, remembering, and safeguarding. Our military defends the freedoms and rights enshrined in our Constitution. 

But we must also be vigilant as there are those in this country who not only claim America isn’t perfect, but are now trying to change the way we are governed. Isn’t it fabulous that they too have freedom of speech? 

But gain, we need to be vigilant. President Trump said as much on July 3rd at Mount Rushmore, and he reiterated that point again last night. 

“There has never been anything like us anywhere on Earth, and we are not going to let anyone take that away,” he said. “Yet, as we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack a generation after we fought and won the Cold War against the menace of communism, there is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success. These are not mere political disagreements like differences over taxes or regulations. Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, or even 9/11.”

Communism has failed everywhere it has been tried, and millions have died because of that atrocious experiment. So yes, we do need to safeguard our liberties from the insidiousness that is Communism. 

But we ALSO need to and should celebrate all that has been accomplished in this country and look forward with a positive gaze to the future. 

“At 250 years old, we may be the oldest constitutional republic on Earth, but our country is just getting started because the best is yet to come: This is only the dawn of the golden age of America,” Trump said in his conclusion, leading directly into the National Mall fireworks display.

“And on this 250th 4th of July, we declare, just as they did two and a half centuries ago, that for our country and for our children and for the cause of liberty, we are going to take our country to new levels, to levels not reached,” Trump continued. “We’re going to make it bigger, better, stronger, and we’re going to love it even more.”

Are we a perfect union? No. Quite frankly, we never will be. But we ARE exceptional because, 250 years ago, colonists said ENOUGH to government overreach and fought for our freedom. 

“We are made in the courage, fire, flesh, and blood of the best and the bravest people this world has ever produced. Tonight, we pledge allegiance to the flag they gave us — and we say, God bless the immortal patriots of 1776, and LONG LIVE THE CAUSE OF INDEPENDENCE…” https://t.co/h15W1TjMAW

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 5, 2026

We celebrate our history, safeguard our freedoms, and in doing so, the best is yet to come. 

 Feature Photo Credit: