The Movement: Right wrestles with Trump-ification of 250th Independence Day celebrations

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As the summer of the United States’s 250th birthday bash gets into full swing, the right has an opportunity to embrace a patriotic vibe shift — but it is wrestling with itself about falling into knee-jerk politicization and Trump-ification.

The World Cup has provided a refreshing and unexpected dose of American admiration and appreciation as Independence Day approaches. Social media is awash in feel-good content from foreign tourists who are charmed by cultural quirks like Waffle House, friendliness and ample air conditioning. 

Patriotic aesthetics, while still largely conservative-coded, seem to be more widely embraced than in recent years. America 250 merchandise abounds, and left-wing “No Kings” protesters have embraced flying the American flag at their rallies.

If there is a vibe shift, though, it’s getting Trumped in the nation’s capital.

Sunday’s “Freedom 250” UFC fight at the White House was an impressive and bizarre spectacle of American exceptionalism and corporatism, with a super-sized Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds flyover. The Marine Corps band played each fighter’s walk-out music live, corralled by dividers noting sponsorship by SuperFile. Tech and media titans like Mark Zuckerberg and David Ellison joined the president and various other politicians in the audience. 

But despite being a purportedly nonpartisan event, it devolved when UFC fighter Josh Hokit proclaimed in his post-victory interview that former first lady Michelle Obama is a man.

Hours later, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he will have “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY” on the National Mall on July 4, placing himself at the center of what was already set to be a grand air, music and fireworks show for the nation’s 250th Independence Day.

Such statements and moves are hampering the right’s attempts to capitalize on a wider patriotic mood.

Take it from Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, who is emblematic of the kind of low-propensity younger male voter who supported the president in 2024 but has turned away from Trump over the last year and a half. Portnoy on Monday said that Trump “has to denounce” Hokit’s Obama quip.

“When you have........

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