US marks 250 years of independence with celebrations and global scrutiny

Global congratulations with critical undertones

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of US independence, but his message carried a pointed question. "The ideals of July 4, freedom, law and self-determination, have written world history," Steinmeier wrote, according to the presidential office. He added that the anniversary also prompts the question: "Is the direction right? And the answer is never given by a single person, but by the people of the free and equal." Chancellor Friedrich Merz conveyed warm wishes by phone, stressing the special bond between Germans and Americans.

Pope Leo XIV called for a return to founding principles, praying that "the high ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the nation's prosperity in unity, justice and peace." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the US as a guarantor of global freedom in his call with Trump.

A nation at a crossroads

Only one in five Americans believes the founding fathers would be proud of the country today, according to a Gallup survey cited by the Frankfurter Allgemeine. Even among Republicans, just one in four shares that view. Political scientist Tobias Endler told N-tv that the US is at a crossroads and that Trump "perverts the original idea of the founding fathers." The FAZ analysis notes that the constitution has weathered repeated shocks, from the Civil War to the rise of an imperial presidency and the current polarization, but that the belief in individual freedom remains embedded in the country's DNA.

Economic boom and shadows

Economist Markus Brunnermeier told WirtschaftsWoche that the US has grounds to celebrate, with big tech companies planning $725 billion in investments this year and GDP growth forecast at 2.3 percent for 2026. Yet he pointed to two major concerns: inflation at 4.3 percent and youth unemployment at 9.4 percent, more than double the overall jobless rate. "AI has killed many classic entry-level jobs," he said, while also warning that the stock market may be overvalued and due for a correction.

German public opinion sours

A weighted #NDRfragt survey of nearly 25,000 participants found that 91 percent rate transatlantic relations as bad, and 95 percent say they have worsened since Trump's first election in 2016. Frequent policy shifts make the US unpredictable, according to 92 percent. Only 16 percent still see the US as a partner in supporting Ukraine, and just 3 percent on climate change.

It is not necessarily the US as such, but rather Trump as an individual. His threats towards anyone who does not conform with him shape the current relationship. His unilateral actions and unpredictability do nothing to foster the relationship between the two countries.

A call for European self-reliance

A WirtschaftsWoche commentary argues that Europe must stop lamenting the state of transatlantic ties and instead use the crisis as an opportunity to "finally grow up." For decades, Germany and the EU outsourced strategic thinking to Washington in defence, foreign policy and economics. Trump's tariff threats, NATO scepticism and talk of annexing Greenland have ended that arrangement. The piece urges more defence spending, independent diplomatic efforts and reduced economic dependencies.

Celebrations in Washington

Central festivities in the capital include a military flyover, band performances and a late-evening speech by President Trump, followed by a fireworks display with 850,000 rockets. Parades and folk festivals are planned across the country.