Millions say they won’t celebrate July 4 as poll reveals deep national pessimism

Millions say they won’t celebrate July 4 as poll reveals deep national pessimism - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary of independence, a significant portion of the population expresses reluctance to celebrate, reflecting deep political divisions. A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that one in five Americans will not mark Independence Day this year, including a quarter of Democrats and 8% of Republicans. Furthermore, two in five respondents doubt the nation's ability to endure for another 250 years. This sentiment is palpable across the country. Betsy Halsey, a 63-year-old retired teacher from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, who still keeps memorabilia from America's 1976 bicentennial, finds herself unable to celebrate. Appalled by Donald Trump, she stated, "I don't want to be at the same party with people feeling enthusiastic about where our country is going." In stark contrast, Dan Marrazzo, 70, a Republican and laundromat owner in nearby Langhorne Manor, eagerly anticipates the festivities. He believes America is thriving under Donald Trump and plans to celebrate with friends and family, asserting, "The poorest person in America has a better lifestyle than some of the richest people in the rest of the world." The upcoming semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence, traditionally serves as a unifying summer ritual of fireworks and parades. However, the political divisions that have characterized the Donald Trump era are now testing this tradition. With Donald Trump placing his personal stamp on the official commemoration, and his second White House term marked by polarizing policies on immigration, the economy, and foreign affairs, many Americans are grappling with how to separate the politics from the pageantry. Beverly Gage, a Yale University historian, observes, "The very idea of celebrating has become political and partisan." She adds, "What is striking about our moment is how widespread the pessimism seems to be." This widespread sentiment is underscored by the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which found that one in five Americans will not celebrate Independence Day, and two in five question the country's longevity. To understand these complex feelings, Reuters interviewed residents, activists, historians, and elected officials in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where Halsey and Marrazzo reside. Once considered a political backwater, Bucks County now serves as a microcosm of the cultural and partisan schisms gripping the U.S. This deeply divided region, a critical electoral swing state, saw Donald Trump win by fewer than 300 votes out of approximately 400,000 cast in 2024. Donald Trump has positioned himself at the center of the nation's birthday celebration. Last year, his administration established Freedom 250, a public-private partnership, to organize anniversary events, despite the existence of America250, a congressionally chartered commission that had spent years planning activities. Freedom 250's flagship event, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, was kicked off by a campaign-style rally from Donald Trump, who is scheduled to deliver another on July 4. This has drawn criticism for turning a national celebration into a political event, prompting several Democratic-led states and musical acts to decline to participate. Adding to the controversy, the U.S. Mint plans to issue a 250th commemorative gold coin bearing Donald Trump's likeness. In Bucks County, Tabitha Dell'Angelo, a 56-year-old college professor and former Democratic school board member, expressed her dismay with the country's direction under Donald Trump, stating she would not celebrate July 4 as she normally would. "I love my country. I am a proud American," she said, "But this version of the celebration does not feel like it's about America, but instead a celebration of Trump." The county, home to significant Revolutionary War sites, has also been embroiled in disputes over unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud, book bans, and debates about historical curricula. Residents interviewed conveyed that the holiday, despite its traditional themes of national identity, has done little to alleviate their concerns about local and national divides. Many are grappling with fundamental questions: Are there still unifying principles, or has partisanship fractured voters to the point where party supersedes patriotism? Jim Worthington, 69, a Trump supporter and health club owner, struggles to comprehend why anyone would forgo the 250th celebrations. He views America's longevity as a marvel worth honoring, regardless of who is president, declaring, "This is a celebration of 250 years of history, the greatest experiment in the history of the world." Doylestown Councilman Connor O'Hanlon, 30, a Democrat, notes that his generation has spent its entire adult life in a hyper-partisan era marked by "an overall nihilism and cynicism about the direction our country is going in." Yet, he believes Americans should use July 4 to reflect on shared beliefs, even as some neighbors doubt many remain. Doreen Stratton, an activist and writer in Doylestown, whose family lineage traces back to free Black residents in Philadelphia in 1776, fears that years of progress, particularly for Black Americans, are stalling under the Donald Trump administration's rollback of civil rights protections. "I almost look at it like I'm in mourning," she said of the upcoming Independence Day. These divided sentiments pose a challenge for local July 4 event organizers, who must navigate how to mark the holiday without alienating large segments of residents. Dick Creter, whose nonprofit, America Celebrates, is hosting events in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Lambertville, New Jersey, noted that several people sought assurances that the program would be nonpartisan. Creter believes, "I think that to let the celebration of our 250 go by without embracing it, regardless of your political stance, is a mistake." Historians point out that previous milestone anniversaries also occurred during tumultuous periods, such as the aftermath of the Civil War in 1876 and the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal in 1976. Yale's Gage cautions against judging the present too harshly, stating, "One thing I'm very aware of is how poor people are at judging their own historical moment." She adds, "The story of some of the deepest moments of crisis in America were followed by the moments of deepest change." At Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County, where George Washington famously crossed the Delaware, executive director Jennifer Martin emphasizes their apolitical approach to history. "It's important that we are telling accurate stories, and that we are not allowing the political climate to influence how we tell histories," she said. John Godzieba, a retired police officer who reenacts Washington, holds out hope for temporary unity: "Maybe on July 5, they'll go back to being angry and disenchanted about the country," he said. "But I think on July 4, they will be here." Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments