USA marks 250 years, but can democracy survive the Trump era?

This weekend, as Fourth of July celebrations begin, the United States marks 250 years since independence. The milestone comes at a tumultuous time in US politics and globally.

David Ignatius of The Washington Post offers a harsh assessment: he compares the modern US to imperial Britain of 1776, not the rebellious patriots. He points to an "appalling gap between rich and poor," a broken education system, unraveling social cohesion, and a nation that feels "like two nations rather than one."

In contrast, the conservative Washington Times is far more optimistic. It highlights American inventions – refrigerators, national parks, and rock and roll. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo writes that the US not only survived 250 years but became "the freest, wealthiest and most powerful country in the world." He adds, "I believe that America’s best days are in front of us and not behind us."

Across the Atlantic, the view differs. Germany's Der Spiegel offers a cautiously optimistic piece, wondering if US democracy, which has survived 250 years, can survive Trump. It describes American democracy as a "tenacious beast" riven by contradictions, never more apparent than in Trump's America.

The Guardian's Ben Jennings published a cynical cartoon: an updated version of Emmanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" featuring Donald Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., Vice President JD Vance, bags of cryptocurrency and cash, golf clubs, ICE agents, and Melania Trump on a gilded boat.

Other news: The New York Times reports alarming glacier melt in Europe after recent heatwaves. Swiss glaciers are now at levels normally seen in August, with snow disappearing faster than usual. This threatens drinking water, hydropower, farming, and nuclear plant cooling. Scientists warn that the point of no return for ice loss could come in 10–20 years.

British papers are already in a frenzy ahead of England's match against Mexico early Monday. Pubs are allowed to open until 5 AM. Headlines include "Mextra Time" (Daily Star), "big all-nighter" (Daily Mail), "Mexican Rave," and "Tequila Sunrise."

Finally, this weekend also features Taylor Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York. Page Six reports the couple may have already had a legal ceremony in Tennessee.