While millions of Americans celebrated the Fourth of July with pride and gratitude, the political Left found itself in a familiar posture: offended by optimism. What began as a simple, heartfelt Independence Day post by NFL legend Jason Kelce quickly spiraled into a social media pile-on from enraged progressives — furious not over what he said, but over the fact that he dared to express love for his country without qualifying it with political despair.
“Man I love the 4th! One of the great days we all can set aside our differences in this country, and enjoy the one thing we all share in common. That we are American!” Kelce posted to Instagram, accompanied by a fireworks video. “Cheers to you, oh beautiful America.”
That was enough to provoke a stream of vicious responses.
“Set aside differences?? One party wants to feed children. The other wants to feed brown people to alligators,” fumed one commenter.
“Love u bud but this is so out of touch,” another wrote. “I beg you, please read the room rn. So many are suffering.”
The backlash came in stark contrast to the tone taken by several high-profile Democrats, who used the holiday to issue dark, politically charged statements.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is still facing criticism over her failed 2024 presidential campaign, posted:
“Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better.”
Her photo — taken at a White House fireworks display — notably cropped out President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, a move many interpreted as a subtle attempt to distance herself from the embattled former president. The post was mocked across social media for its bleakness and awkward symbolism.
Former President Barack Obama echoed a similarly somber tone, invoking his old campaign slogans and warning that democratic values were “under attack,” urging Americans to “ask ourselves tough questions” rather than celebrate their freedoms.
The mood among the Left was so stark that even non-political expressions of national pride — like Kelce’s — were treated as tone-deaf or offensive. It reflects a broader trend: Democratic patriotism is at near-record lows, according to Gallup, which reported last week that just 36% of Democrats say they are “proud to be American.”
Meanwhile, the rest of the country, particularly those supportive of President Trump’s administration, took the opportunity to celebrate the signing of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill”, a sweeping legislative victory that includes reforms to Medicaid, boosts to national defense, and cuts to green energy subsidies. The contrast in tone between Trump’s supporters — embracing prosperity, unity, and American strength — and the Left’s message of doom was hard to ignore.
In short, Jason Kelce’s real crime in the eyes of the Left was refusing to be miserable.
