As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence from Britain, Donald Trump turns 80. In a new podcast, Mehdi Hasan, a Guardian US columnist and editor-in-chief of Zeteo, examines the state of the nation and its president.
A Weekend of Celebrations
This weekend marks the start of an extravaganza of festivities for the US, commemorating 250 years since breaking away from British rule. Simultaneously, Donald Trump celebrates his 80th birthday. Historically, presidents have used such milestone anniversaries to promote national unity. However, Trump is organizing a cage fight instead.
The president insists that every patriotic American will enjoy the festivities, or at least focus on the party rather than what he has brought to the occasion. Yet, according to Mehdi Hasan, there is little cause for cheer.
Trump's Popularity and Actions
Hasan describes Trump as a deeply unpopular president. He notes that Trump is one of the most unpopular presidents in modern American history at this point in his presidency, if not the most unpopular. He accuses Trump of nakedly and brazenly trying to hijack the celebrations for his own benefit.
Trump's health is also a topic of speculation, but Hasan argues that the state of the nation is more concerning. He warns of a serious assault on the constitution, liberal democracy, and the principle of three co-equal branches of government. He suggests that the distractions of UFC, gold, and ballrooms cause people to lose track of the real dangers.
A Dangerous Moment for Democracy
Hasan concludes that this is a very dangerous moment for American democracy at 250 years. He urges attention to the underlying threats rather than the spectacle of the celebrations.
