The United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026. It’s a major milestone for a country that was born in revolution against a king and comes at a moment when a protest movement against the current president envisions him as a would-be king.
The American experiment has endured, however, and President Donald Trump has seized on the 250th anniversary as a major linchpin of his presidency.
“The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended,” he said in his State of the Union address in 2026. “It still continues because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot.”
With that in mind, it’s worth looking at the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, that severed the US from England and created the independent United States of America. The ideas upon which it is built — and the grievances it lists against the King of England — are the subject of any number of books on history, philosophy or political theory. But some of the words take on new meaning when seen specifically through the more immediate lens of the Trump era.
Read the Declaration of Independence alongside NCS’s analysis 250 years later:
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,
Americans seem incredibly divided today, so it’s important to recognize there are times when they come together.
and to imagine among the many powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,
There are solely two mentions of God, or a creator, within the Declaration and none within the Constitution.
The White House lately printed a YouTube video that pulls its title, “The Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” from this fleeting point out of God within the Declaration. In it, Catholic Bishop Robert Barron argues there’s a a lot deeper connection between the US and Christianity. Trump has argued that faith, and Christianity, ought to play a a lot bigger function within the US authorities.
a good respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they need to declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
The Declaration of Independence is a listing of grievances by the 13 colonies towards the King of England, written largely by Thomas Jefferson and agreed upon by the colonies. Trump, notably in his second time period, doesn’t usually really feel the necessity to clarify his actions earlier than he takes them and barely tries to search out settlement among the many states.
We maintain these truths to be self-evident, that all males are created equal, that they’re endowed by their Creator with sure unalienable Rights, that amongst these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This is one of an important concepts in American historical past, and one the US has slowly moved towards realizing. It was solely by a protracted and painful course of that Black individuals and girls received the precise to vote and have their rights protected underneath the legislation. Trump doesn’t essentially view everybody as the identical. He has described Somali Americans as “garbage,” as an illustration, and stated they need to be despatched away from the US.
—That to safe these rights, Governments are instituted amongst Men, deriving their simply powers from the consent of the ruled, —That each time any Form of Government turns into harmful of these ends, it’s the Right of the People to change or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its basis on such ideas and organizing its powers in such type, as to them shall appear almost certainly to impact their (*250*) and Happiness.
Today, residents consent to being ruled by elections. Trump is distrustful of the US election techniques and has alleged, with out proof, that current elections have been rigged or beset by fraud. A serious take a look at of the US system will come if Trump is compelled to simply accept an election loss for Republicans within the coming 2026 midterm elections or in 2028, after which the Constitution requires him to go away workplace.
Prudence, certainly, will dictate that Governments lengthy established shouldn’t be modified for mild and transient causes; and accordingly all expertise hath shewn, that mankind are extra disposed to endure, whereas evils are sufferable, than to proper themselves by abolishing the varieties to which they’re accustomed. But when a protracted prepare of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the identical Object evinces a design to cut back them underneath absolute Despotism, it’s their proper, it’s their obligation, to throw off such Government, and to offer new Guards for his or her future safety.
Democrats and Trump’s critics see authoritarianism in his heavy-handed method to governing and worry that would result in a type of despotism. Protest actions towards him have used the tagline “No Kings.”
A crowd gathered at Ocean Beach in San Francisco spells out “No King!” when viewed from above, on June 14, 2025.
Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images
—Such has been the affected person sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the need which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
In some ways, the Trump administration has tried to change the US system of authorities in the present day. They have challenged the power of Congress to find out how taxpayer cash ought to be spent. They have refused to hunt approval from Congress for beginning wars. They have tried to invalidate the 14th Amendment, which ensures citizenship for individuals born within the US.
The historical past of the current King of Great Britain is a historical past of repeated accidents and usurpations, all having in direct object the institution of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To show this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
This is the colonies’ checklist of grievances, none of that are straight relevant in the present day. But some do have some resonance within the political debates of the Trump period. And within the case of immigration, the grievance is totally inverted.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, essentially the most healthful and needed for the general public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to cross Laws of rapid and urgent significance, until suspended of their operation until his Assent ought to be obtained; and when so suspended, he has completely uncared for to take care of them.
King George and Parliament refused to behave on laws handed within the colonies. As president, Trump has the power to veto any laws. Congress can override him with a two-thirds majority vote in each the House and Senate. But Congress isn’t doing a lot in the way in which of passing new legal guidelines in the intervening time. If something, it’s the incapability of lawmakers to enact laws — partially because of a supermajority requirement within the Senate — that has allowed current presidents, and particularly Trump, to grab increasingly more energy from lawmakers.
He has refused to cross different Laws for the lodging of giant districts of individuals, until these individuals would relinquish the precise of Representation within the Legislature, a proper inestimable to them and daunting to tyrants solely.
He has known as collectively legislative our bodies at locations uncommon, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the only function of fatiguing them into compliance along with his measures.
State legislatures govern their very own assembly occasions and locations, so this grievance doesn’t apply in the present day. However, it’s notable that one factor Trump very a lot desires to do is change how states run elections. He desires to restrict mail-in voting, as an illustration, one thing that may naturally minimize down on voter participation.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the individuals.
Under the separation of powers within the US Constitution, presidents lack the ability to dissolve state legislatures or chambers of Congress. But there may be one quirk. Early in his second time period, Trump thought of utilizing a president’s energy to adjourn Congress in order that he may make appointments to his Cabinet with out Senate approval. Presidents have routinely known as Congress in for particular periods, however they’ve by no means compelled an adjournment. Trump finally didn’t take a look at the ability, since Republican senators have been in a position to verify almost all of his top-level Cabinet nominees.
He has refused for a very long time, after such dissolutions, to trigger others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at giant for his or her train; the State remaining in the meanwhile uncovered to all the risks of invasion from with out, and convulsions inside.
Trump has mused that coming congressional elections should be canceled, however he lacks the ability to do it. The frequency of US elections (each two years) is within the Constitution; the date they have to happen (the primary Tuesday after the primary Monday in November) is in US legislation; and the main points of how you can conduct them are left to the states. There is concern that Trump may dispatch Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or border brokers to polling websites, which may end in intimidation.
Former Sudanese refugees arrive to vote for the first time, at a polling station in Clarkston, Georgia, on Election Day, November 5, 2024.
Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
He has endeavoured to forestall the inhabitants of these States; for that function obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to cross others to encourage their migrations hither, and elevating the situations of new Appropriations of Lands.
This is a exceptional inversion. The colonists complained that the British restricted the move of immigrants into the US. Now, in a bit of historic irony, Trump has made the restriction of immigration the bedrock of his political profession. His administration, following a marketing campaign promise, is controversially partaking in a mass deportation effort. And Trump has challenged the idea of birthright citizenship, assured within the 14th Amendment.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges depending on his Will alone, for the tenure of their places of work, and the quantity and cost of their salaries.
The independence of judges underneath the Constitution has been a supply of consternation for Trump. He has routinely complained about them, together with Supreme Court justices he appointed.
He has erected a large number of New Offices, and despatched hither swarms of Officers to harrass our individuals, and eat out their substance.
He has saved amongst us, in occasions of peace, Standing Armies with out the Consent of our legislatures.
Trump dispatched National Guard troops to a number of cities over the objections of mayors and governors. Perhaps extra intrusive was the deployment of giant numbers of immigration brokers, particularly to Minneapolis. Some native officers referred to these deployments as a form of invasion.
Teyana Gibson Brown, second from right, reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before arresting her husband Garrison Gibson, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 11, 2026.
Photo: John Locher/AP
He has affected to render the Military impartial of and superior to the Civil energy.
Trump has steered he may name a bigger contingent of the army to US cities as half of his immigration effort or to chop down on crime. But that was earlier than he joined Israel in launching a struggle on Iran.
He has mixed with others to topic us to a jurisdiction international to our structure, and unacknowledged by our legal guidelines; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering giant our bodies of armed troops amongst us:
For defending them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they need to commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For reducing off our Trade with all elements of the world:
Trump promised throughout his marketing campaign to impose tariffs — taxes that make importing items costlier — however the extent of his efforts shocked even some supporters.
For imposing Taxes on us with out our Consent:
The Supreme Court decided that a lot of Trump’s unique tariff coverage represented a tax and that he didn’t have the ability to impose it. The Constitution offers Congress each the ability to impose tariffs and taxes, however over the course of many years lawmakers gave a lot of the ability over tariffs to presidents. Trump did work with Republicans in Congress to cross into legislation a megabill that included cuts to some taxes and spending.
For depriving us in lots of instances, of the advantages of Trial by Jury:
Trump’s use of the Department of Justice to research political rivals has been controversial, however not but profitable. Judges have determined that some of his extra divisive US Attorneys have been improperly appointed. Grand juries have repeatedly declined to pursue costs towards some individuals Trump needed prosecuted.
Perhaps extra in keeping with this gripe from the colonists is the Trump administration’s arrest and elimination of immigrants from the US with out a lot in the way in which of due process.
Trump has additionally approved the concentrating on by the US army of alleged drug boats within the Pacific and Caribbean, which has led to individuals being killed without arrest or trial.
A banner of President Donald Trump hangs from the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2026.
Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP
For transporting us past Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
The colonists have been complaining concerning the elimination of some colonists for trial in England. There is not any fashionable corollary, however Trump’s administration has deported undocumented immigrants to third-party international locations the place they haven’t any ties.
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary authorities, and enlarging its Boundaries in order to render it without delay an instance and match instrument for introducing the identical absolute rule into these Colonies:
The colonists’ grievance is about how the English have been governing Canada. Trump, notably, has trolled Canada by threatening to make it the 51st US state.
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most respected Laws, and altering essentially the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our personal Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with energy to legislate for us in all instances in anyway.
He has abdicated Government right here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War towards us.
The Declaration was written greater than a yr after struggle between the British and colonists started in April of 1775. The parts of the Declaration coping with struggle in North America really feel very distant from in the present day. But Trump has proven a willingness to make use of the US army overseas – in Venezuela, in Iran and towards alleged drug boats within the Caribbean and Pacific.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our cities, and destroyed the lives of our individuals.
He is right now transporting giant Armies of international Mercenaries to compleat the works of dying, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in essentially the most barbarous ages, and completely unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
It isn’t an ideal comparability, since ICE is made up of US residents, however blue-state critics of the dispatching of immigration officers to their cities have described the immigration officers as a paramilitary pressure and termed their arrival as a sort of invasion.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the excessive Seas to bear Arms towards their Country, to develop into the executioners of their buddies and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited home insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to carry on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the cruel Indian Savages, whose recognized rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and situations.
The phrase rebellion has re-entered the nationwide dialogue through the Trump period. Trump was accused by some of fomenting an insurrection when he tried to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election and inspired supporters to march towards Capitol on the day it was overrun by individuals intent on disrupting the counting of electoral votes. Trump later pardoned or commuted the sentences of January 6 insurrectionists.
More lately, Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a legislation handed within the late 1700s, to take care of civil unrest in US cities.
Pro-Trump rioters storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Photo: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
In each stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in essentially the most humble phrases: Our repeated Petitions have been answered solely by repeated damage. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by each act which can outline a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free individuals.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them every now and then of makes an attempt by their legislature to increase an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement right here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we now have conjured them by the ties of our frequent kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We should, subsequently, acquiesce within the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and maintain them, as we maintain the remainder of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, subsequently, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, interesting to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, within the Name, and by Authority of the nice People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right should be Free and Independent States;
The Constitution wouldn’t be written and ratified for one more 13 years, however it’s vital to notice right here that the Congress debated and ratified this declaration by a deliberative course of. Today, Congress usually appears paralyzed in its partisanship and thus has allowed the president to suck up a lot of its authority.
that they’re Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that each one political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and should be completely dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they’ve full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, set up Commerce, and to do all different Acts and Things which Independent States could of proper do. And for the assist of this Declaration, with a agency reliance on the safety of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to one another our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
They will not be pledging allegiance to an individual, like a king, however to one another. The powers they declare — of waging struggle and regulating commerce — are in the present day presupposed to be the purview of the president and Congress balancing one another out.