– WASHINGTON, D.C.
Former President Bill Clinton commemorated the 250th anniversary of US independence with a powerful statement highlighting both the nation’s historic achievements and the current challenges to its democratic institutions. In the message, released on July 4, 2026, Clinton reflected on the founders’ bold experiment in Philadelphia in 1776, noting that the United States has endured as the world’s longest-standing continuous democracy despite a difficult path, ‘fraught with difficulties,’in the words of Abraham Lincoln.
Clinton acknowledged the significant progress made through the efforts of leaders and ordinary citizens in expanding rights and opportunities. However, he cautioned that this milestone comes at a time of deep division and grave threats to democratic institutions. He directly criticized the current leadership for actions such as deploying masked agents to detain people, initiating what he called an unconstitutional war without clear objectives, and weakening the system of checks and balances through judicial and congressional actions.
The former president accused those in power of using the government against the opposition, suppressing free speech, favoring the wealthy at the expense of society at large, attempting to rewrite history, and prioritizing loyalty over competence in key appointments. Despite these concerns, Clinton pointed to American history, from the Civil War to the advances in civil rights, as evidence of its resilience in prioritizing inclusion over division in critical moments.
Clinton emphasized the founders' vision of a ‘more perfect union,’ reminding Americans that the country has never been perfect, but has always had the capacity to improve. She urged citizens to celebrate the nation's achievements on this historic day, pledging to continue working to strengthen democracy through civic engagement and community service.
In closing, Clinton expressed optimism, stating that there is still ‘nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed with the good it has.’ She called on all Americans to actively participate in perfecting the union for future generations.