Former President Bill Clinton has issued a statement marking the nation's 250th birthday, urging Americans to reject division and embrace the country's founding ideals.
Clinton reflected on the nation's founding, warning that the United States is experiencing another period of deep political division. "Today, we celebrate this milestone amid another period of deep division, renewed questions about America's future and role in the world, and serious threats to our own institutions and to our democracy itself," the former president wrote.
Clinton broadened his criticism to the federal government and the courts, stating that "they have weaponized government to settle personal scores, prosecute enemies, stamp out free speech and made the federal government a new profit center for themselves and their allies." He also criticized the use of masked agents to seize people from their homes, workplaces, and the street, as well as an unconstitutional war on a whim.
The former president encouraged Americans to think about the nation's future as it enters its next 250 years, arguing that preserving democratic institutions requires citizens to value common purpose over political grievance. His statement came as President Donald Trump presided over separate America250 festivities in Washington, D.C., where he touted the nation's "Golden Age" and highlighted his administration's accomplishments.
While both men celebrated the nation's founding, their messages highlighted vastly different views of the country's current political climate. Trump used his Independence Day address to celebrate the nation's founding while touting his administration's achievements, criticizing progressive Democrats, and promoting priorities, including election integrity measures, border security, and a renewed emphasis on patriotism.
