US: Americans politically divided as country marks 250th anniversary.

As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, public festivities have drawn modest crowds to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., despite a heatwave that led to the cancellation of numerous events across the country. The celebratory atmosphere, however, unfolds against a backdrop of persistent domestic polarization and unresolved international tensions. Two and a half centuries ago, a new country started with a largely isolationist perspective, then became an internationalist force for multilateralism. Under the current administration, however, U.S. foreign policy has shifted toward a more unilateral and transactional approach, withdrawing from several international agreements and organizations. As the nation enters its next quarter-millennium, it continues to navigate unresolved foreign policy challenges, including ongoing tensions with Iran that remain diplomatically unsettled. President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address at Mount Rushmore, using the monument's iconic presidential sculptures as a setting. The speech took aim at the country's immigrant population, a familiar target for the president. He said that American identity had come under renewed attack — including from newcomers to the country who embraced ideas "totally opposed" to the American "way of life" and "great success." In surveys, members of the public said Trump's speech abandoned the traditional presidential message of unity at a moment of maximum polarization. However, those who turned out for the nation's celebrations wanted to look past that. Shotlist: Washington D.C., USA - July 4, 2026: 1. Various of people, statue of Benjamin Franklin; 2. SOUNDBITE (English) resident (name not given): "There's a lot of moments of unity and happiness in America too, that we don't really see on TV or on X or social media."; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) resident (name not given): "The part of the country that is here has just been so helpful and polite."; 4. Various of pedestrians, national guards; FILE: New York, USA - Oct 2024 5. Various of buildings, traffic. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]