French Media: Trump Has Abandoned the Spirit of America’s Founding Fathers
Today, July 4th, marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, becoming the central topic of editorial commentary across major French daily newspapers on Saturday. The editorial in Le Figaro points out that this commemoration—intended to unite a deeply divided nation—has been transformed by current President Trump into a celebration glorifying his own persona. Historically, every U.S. president has regarded America as the "beacon of the free world," a vision that changed with Trump’s rise. For him, the spiritual legacy of America’s founding fathers is less a mission for national interest and more a tool for personal ambition or self-aggrandizement.
Trump Has Abandoned the Spirit of America’s Founding Fathers
The editorial, penned by Patrick Saint-Paul in Le Figaro, writes that the 250th anniversary of American independence will become a celebration of its current president. Blinded by delusions of grandeur, Trump sees himself not as Lincoln—deeply shaped by democratic principles—but as Caesar or Napoleon.
For an event meant to unite a fractured nation, Trump believes no better way exists to celebrate than through his own image. His likeness will be printed on specially designed $250 bills and a new "patriotic passport." In his effort to reshape the federal capital into a monument to himself, his face already adorns streets and public spaces. The 47th president considers himself equal to America’s founders, and even entertains the idea of having his portrait carved into Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln (whom he often compares himself to), and Theodore Roosevelt.
Every former president, in their own ways—though with varying degrees of success—has sought to embody the "spirit of the new nation" articulated by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Philadelphia. The editorial also reviews the historical trajectory of America’s founding: Lafayette and Rochambeau fought side by side against the British monarchy, defending a society built upon a new social contract—one that transformed subjects into citizens and introduced revolutionary universal values at the time: equality, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and prosperity. Tocqueville praised the virtues of this democratic system, acknowledging it was far from perfect but still a model worth emulating.
In short, from Washington to Reagan, and from Kennedy onward, every U.S. president has seen themselves as a guardian of these values, viewing their nation as the "beacon of the free world." Emulating the Founding Fathers, they upheld a republican restraint, distinguishing themselves from the opulence and extravagance of royal courts.
Then came Trump! Obsessed with spectacle and charisma, enamored with strongmen, blinded by delusions of grandeur, he sees himself not as Lincoln but as Caesar or Napoleon. He disbanded bipartisan committees, turning celebrations into MAGA rallies—further deepening national division. The editorial concludes that Trump undoubtedly inherits the power of “the rebellion” from history’s legacy, but he more often treats it as a means for personal ends rather than a cause for the nation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869787270836236/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.