This July 4th marked America’s 250th birthday. On the big day, several former U.S. presidents spoke out publicly, with Clinton delivering the most serious and sharpest remarks—widely seen as a veiled jab at the Trump administration.
On X, Clinton released a statement titled “On America’s 250th Anniversary and the State of the Nation,” writing, “Today, we mark this milestone in another era of deep division. America’s future and its role in the world are again being questioned. Our own institutions and democracy itself face serious threats.”
He criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies and its war on Iran: “Those in power have sent masked agents into American communities, forcibly dragging people from homes, workplaces, and streets. They launched an unconstitutional war on a whim, with no clear goal and no exit strategy.”
Clinton also accused the administration of “weaponizing the government,” adding, “With the help of Supreme Court justices serving life terms and a compliant Congress, they’ve turned the government into a tool to settle personal scores, prosecute political opponents, suppress free speech, and turn the federal government into a new profit center for themselves and their allies.”
“This isn’t the first time we’ve been on the brink,” Clinton said, listing major turning points in U.S. history. He noted that the Founding Fathers were wise enough to know “America would never be perfect, but could always get better.”
George W. Bush urged: “The next 250 years demand that Americans be citizens, not spectators.” The Republican reminded folks that if they’re unhappy with the country’s direction, they can vote to express their views, adding that democracy can “self-correct.”
Obama shared a clip of an earlier speech, calling on people to “trust in the checks and balances of government, the accountability that comes from an independent judiciary and a free press, and the peaceful transfer of power after fair and free elections.”
“America is a country that’s always evolving,” Obama said. “Each generation must carry forward the unfinished work of the last—defending justice, righting wrongs, and perfecting our union.”
Biden’s tone stood out as the most gentle and plain.
He recalled the nation’s founding ideals, emphasizing that America is “the only country in history not built on race, blood, or geography, but on an idea.”
“I don’t believe we’re as divided as some say. I’ve bet on the American people my whole life, and I’m not stopping now,” Biden said. He ended with a wish: “Happy 250th birthday, America. Our story isn’t over yet. Let’s keep writing it together.”
As the world and many Americans looked on with doubt and distrust, the U.S. turned 250. President Trump spoke at a celebration on the evening of the 4th, boasting that he rebuilt a strong military in his first term, showed force in his current term, and achieved “great success” in Venezuela and Iran. He also declared, “The dawn of America’s golden age has just begun.”
Yet many voices argue that the nation faces deep troubles: political polarization, severe social divisions, and a shrinking global leadership role.
A recent Reuters poll found that 38% of respondents believe America may not exist as a unified country in another 250 years.
The same poll showed the share of Americans who think the U.S. is “the greatest country in the world” has dropped from 38% a decade ago to 30%. Among Democrats, that figure fell from 26% to 11%, while among Republicans, it held steady at around 60%.
