Democratic lawmakers voiced their belief in the United States as an extraordinary country despite disagreements with President Donald Trump. When asked by Fox News Digital about their pride in being American citizens, they reaffirmed their commitment to the nation’s core values.
U.S. Values and Freedoms
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., emphasized the freedoms provided by U.S. laws, which he believes allow individuals to succeed. He stated, “The freedoms that we have and the fact that anyone should be able to get ahead for them and their family based on the laws we have every now and then, in general, it’s sound.” These sentiments were shared as the nation prepared for its 250th Independence Day celebration, showing a mix of trust in the country’s principles and skepticism towards the administration.
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, emphasized the importance of checks on presidential power, expressing pride in the impeachment process as a tool for accountability. “I am very proud to tell you that impeachment is an option to remove a reckless, ruthless, lawless president,” he noted.
Commitment to Democracy
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, spoke about defending democracy against authoritarianism, aiming to continue celebrating milestones of American independence. He expressed pride in the U.S. as an innovative and free nation constantly striving to perfect the democratic experiment.
Similarly, Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., praised the contributions of immigrants to America, calling it the greatest country on earth. Despite concerns with the Trump administration, Thanedar, an immigrant from India, proudly identified as an American citizen.
Republican Perspectives
Republicans articulated their pride in American values, crediting the Constitution for citizens’ prosperity. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisc., highlighted the freedoms and material wealth in the U.S., which he believed derived from the nation’s foundational ideas. “I guess our Constitution and all the freedoms we have that other countries don’t have, which results in us being so much wealthier than other countries,” Grothman remarked.
Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., added that the U.S. commitment to maintaining peace through strength has instilled a sense of pride and zeal in protecting its interests.