As America approaches its 250th birthday, one might expect to see a nation eager to celebrate its inheritance. Instead, American pride has fallen to new lows, and the reason runs deeper than politics. A cultural phenomenon has taken hold within our institutions, eroding national pride at its root.
The problem comes down to a matter of loyalty versus hatred for one’s country.
Both phenomena have a name. The former is patriotism, expressed by a love of home, a national attachment shaped by loyalty to the values and goals of a country.
The latter is seldom identified, but the great British conservative thinker Sir Roger Scruton gave it a name: Oikophobia.
Sir Roger defined it as “the repudiation of inheritance and home.” The Greek root oikos denotes a dwelling place or a home in the fullest sense, which encompasses one’s home country and its inheritance: its history, culture, beliefs, and institutions.
And today, there is a tangible rise of oikophobia.
<div id="attachment_1087107" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1087107" class="size-large wp-image-1087107" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-589704846-864x576.jpg" alt="EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 15: Roger Scruton attends the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 15, 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one of the most important annual literary events, and takes place in the city which became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2004. (Photo by Awakening/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-589704846-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-589704846-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-589704846-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-589704846.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Awakening/Getty Images</div>
A <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/692150/american-pride-slips-new-low.aspx">2025 Gallup poll</a> asked adults, “How proud are you to be an American — extremely proud, very proud, moderately proud, only a little proud or not at all proud?”
In 2001, 87% answered extremely or very proud. Today, that has fallen by a third to a disheartening 58%.
The remaining 40% certainly fall short of patriotism — 9% claimed they were not at all proud to be American, 11% attested to be only a little proud, and 19% were moderately proud. Nothing to boast about, for this is the grip of oikophobia. And it is exacerbated in certain groups.
Pride in America varies vastly between political parties, pointing to perhaps the root of the problem. Among Republicans, 92% were extremely or very proud to be American, and the figure for independents was 53%. But among Democrats, the rate plummets to 36%.
These numbers reflect a curious trend. For Democrats, their pride seems to fluctuate with current events and politics: President Trump in office, George Floyd’s death, January 6 — the list goes on.
Conservatives, on the other hand, appear to derive their pride from America’s history, its traditions, and its achievements — the unshaking character of our nation.
This is the difference between oikophobia and patriotism.
However, it is important to understand that oikophobia is not just a lack of pride or the expression of criticism. In fact, a healthy nation ought to reflect on its past and seek improvement. Oikophobia, by contrast, rejects national inheritance. It reframes history as something to be dismantled rather than understood.
Since the oikophobe — better, the oik — is so consumed by repudiation, one might expect him to simply leave the home he so thoroughly disdains.
Oddly, they instead choose to rule it. And they can be found across the most critical cultural institutions — museums, academia, and media, to name a few.
But these oiks are not working for the sake of public benefit, mind you. They infiltrate the public sphere and act as operatives of the Culture Wars, bending, or rather reframing, American history to their will: to paint America as systemically racist, oppressive, and cruel, all in order to tell what can only be described, in Scruton’s own words, as “a tale of shame and degradation.”
This tale is told in different ways depending on the institution.
Take first the Smithsonian — the home of America’s national museums that attract visitors from all over the country. As an institution that is nearly two-thirds publicly funded, it bears a responsibility to American taxpayers.
Yet it fails in nearly every way. The National Museum of American History, for instance, cannot even deliver an objective narrative of American history. Instead, it indoctrinates visitors with left-wing ideology and sows shame among Americans, all in an attempt to make them reject their national identity. It treats slavery, imperialism, political polarization, and identity politics as the defining characteristics of the United States.
<div id="attachment_936715" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-936715" class="size-large wp-image-936715" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2217701221-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: A view of the Smithsonian Institution near the National Mall on May 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2217701221-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2217701221-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2217701221-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2217701221.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Roy Rochlin/Getty Images</div>
Undeniably, these are elements of our history, some more important than others, but when elevated above all else, they cease to inform and instead distort the American narrative. 
And this is where oikophobia becomes most visible — through omission, interpretive framing, and moralizing language. What is emphasized, what is forgotten, and how the story is told is a much more insightful story. 
Institutions like the Smithsonian are respected worldwide, and for them to show such blatant disrespect to the very heritage it is meant to preserve is nothing short of disgusting.
Its leaders also make it abundantly clear that they are oiks themselves. 
Dr. Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, never misses the chance to recite lines about how the Smithsonian Institution resides on the stolen land of native tribes or how her white privilege has afforded her her station in life. Both statements are meant to signal that the American story begins and remains in illegitimacy rather than achievement.
Nothing is further from the truth.
Like museums, academia too has been affected. Critical race theory tells young, impressionable students that institutions are not to be trusted, for they are inherently racist. Campuses not only allow but even enable protesters who threaten Jewish students and faculty, harass law enforcement, camp out on shared student grounds, and chant violently, anti-American sentiments. Conservative students self-censor so as not to be canceled. 
The media is not free either. An excellent example of this is the ongoing conflict in Iran. Just a few weeks ago, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called out the press for its lack of discipline and honesty, for its habitual practice of sowing shame and fear.
Referencing Operation Epic Fury, Hegseth asks why no one has run a story on the bravery and tenacity of American soldiers. Not MSNBC. Not CNN. Not even Newsmax.
Hegseth shamed the press corps for being irresponsible and for “undermining the success” of the American military. “How about we talk about how special America is,” he said, “that only we have these capabilities.” And then he even conceded, “I think it’s too much to ask.”
<div id="attachment_1074159" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1074159" class="size-large wp-image-1074159" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2269789867-865x576.jpg" alt="US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 8, 2026. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 7 barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate the country, triggering global relief alongside apprehension. Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil, gas and fertiliser passes, easing concerns for the battered global economy." width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2269789867-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2269789867-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2269789867-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2269789867.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />Credit: Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images.</div>
Unfortunately, he may be right. This is yet another example of the ways in which oikophobia now permeates the most influential institutions, degrading national unity by diffusing doubt.
In the 2004 essay <a href="https://www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/NeedForNations2020.pdf">The Need for Nations</a>, in which he coined the term oikophobia, Scruton quotes Goethe’s Faust, “What you have inherited from your forefathers, earn it, that you might own it.”
Though he was writing about Europe of the early 2000s, Scruton’s analysis applies almost perfectly to contemporary America. He says that we must “earn again the sovereignty that previous generations so laboriously shaped from the inheritance of Christianity, imperial government and Roman law. Earning it, we will own it, and owning it, we will be at peace within our borders.”
The trouble with oikophobia is that it makes such ownership impossible. It breeds a class of followers who, set in their ways to redefine the nation according to their disdain for it, feel entitled to reject the very inheritance of their birthright. Thus, they will never earn it. And they will never own it.
Where gratitude should exist toward our forefathers, oiks replace with grievance. They say that America is not a nation striving toward its ideals, but one defined solely by its failures. And when that story is perpetuated through museums, classrooms, and the media — the very venues tasked with shaping national attachment — it does not remain abstract. It becomes formative. It becomes defining. It reshapes how Americans see their country, and ultimately, whether they believe it is worth loving at all.
This is the cost of the rise of oikophobia — a battle to define what it means to be American.
But the answer is simple: our American inheritance is worth conserving.
* * *
Anna Gustafson is a Research Assistant in the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation. 
Savanna Donaldson is a former member of Heritage’s Young Leaders Program.

Roger Scruton Portrait Session

Roger Scruton Was Right About The War On Patriotism

America 250

American History

Heritage Foundation

Legacy Media

Patriotism

Smithsonian Museum

Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood didn&#8217;t like the crabby article that HuffPost published over the weekend in the midst of Team USA&#8217;s winning streak.
After the U.S. men&#8217;s hockey team won gold Sunday, the Baltimore-based restaurant told HuffPost to &#8220;go f*ck yourself&#8221; in response to a piece the outlet published, titled &#8220;There&#8217;s A Name For The Discomfort You&#8217;re Feeling Watching The Olympics Right Now.&#8221;
The family-owned business sent the message to HuffPost on <a href="https://x.com/JimmysSeafood/status/2025663262864376146?s=20">X</a>, and it already has more than 11 million views.
The HuffPost piece detailed how people who hate their country are having to deal with Team USA winning at the Winter Olympics. HuffPost offered great advice to those who can&#8217;t stand seeing Team USA on top, like &#8220;don&#8217;t forget to breathe.&#8221; Groundbreaking.
Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood is an all-American joint that has been a Maryland landmark since the 1970s, and clearly doesn&#8217;t have an issue with celebrating the athletic achievements of Americans. Like the Minadakis family, who started Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood and turned it into a nationwide staple, the Olympians accomplished their own American dream and should not have to worry about being tolerated instead of celebrated.
With lines like this in the HuffPost story — &#8220;If waving the American flag or chanting, ‘USA!’ makes us feel grossed out or ashamed, we can cheer for individual athletes&#8221; — it&#8217;s easy to see how the Team USA-supporting seafood restaurant got ticked off.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🇺🇸 For bringing home the gold and delivering an overwhelming sense of pride throughout America, we hereby grant FREE CRABCAKES FOR LIFE to all members of the 2026 USA Men’s &amp; Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Teams! This applies to both dine-in and shipping for all time. God Bless… <a href="https://t.co/YY4eI2xa8j">pic.twitter.com/YY4eI2xa8j</a>
— Jimmy’s Famous Seafood (@JimmysSeafood) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmysSeafood/status/2025695986883129437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
To battle the HuffPost whining, Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood offered free crab cakes for life to every member of the 2026 Team USA men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s Olympic ice hockey teams.
The free offer is good for dine-in or shipping, since Jimmy&#8217;s sends crab cakes near and far across the United States.
The praise from the online world couldn&#8217;t have been greater for Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood. Immediately, patriots from all over started ordering crab cakes to show support for an America-loving establishment.
And as if Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood&#8217;s Sunday couldn&#8217;t have been busier shipping out crab cakes to new fans, the company brought back a crab cake-themed American flag shirt to show support for the country long after the Olympic hype had faded.
What won&#8217;t fade is the American spirit Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood exudes daily. From the Minadakis family raising three boys in a small apartment on top of their restaurant to building a seafood empire — thanks to the restaurant sticking to its beliefs, Jimmy&#8217;s Famous Seafood has a whole new batch of Americans to serve.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/huffpost-attacks-team-usa-pride-gets-crushed-by-americans">HuffPost Mocks Team USA Pride — Americans Clap Back</a>

Illustration by Daily Wire staff

Restaurant Tells HuffPost To ‘Go F*ck Yourself’ After Outlet Cries About Team USA

Baltimore

General

Huffington Post

Sports

Team USA

U.S.

Winter Olympics

In the wake of Team USA&#8217;s first Olympic gold in men&#8217;s hockey since the 1980 &#8220;Miracle on Ice,&#8221; two prominent leftist outlets derided the patriotic celebration, triggering a visceral response from the American public.
Huffington Post posted the following on X: “If waving the American flag or chanting ‘USA!’ turns you off right now, you&#8217;re not alone.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
If waving the American flag or chanting “USA!” turns you off right now, you&#39;re not alone.  <a href="https://t.co/ndUODJtix4">https://t.co/ndUODJtix4</a>
&mdash; HuffPost (@HuffPost) <a href="https://twitter.com/HuffPost/status/2025221670592508339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/theres-a-name-for-the-discomfort-youre-feeling-watching-the-olympics-right-now-goog_l_6997616ce4b012cccb427770?d_id=11546752&amp;ncid_tag=tweetlnkushpmg00000067&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_campaign=us_main">HuffPo article</a> linked in X post went further, arguing: “While President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda separates families, and federal agents detain 5-year-olds and kill unarmed civilians, American athletes are winning medals on behalf of the nation at the Olympics right now. This whiplash between pride for United States competitors and national shame for the federal government is common.”
The article continued: “The degree to which you feel shame and guilt right now for cheering U.S. Olympians might also depend on how much cognitive dissonance you have between the stated values of being American –– freedom, revolutionary spirit, opportunity for all –– versus how our government has actually acted in the hundreds of years since the U.S. was formed &#8230;”
The post was brutally “ratioed” — social media shorthand for when replies vastly outnumber likes. By Monday morning, it had received roughly 25,000 replies compared to about 1,500 likes.
&#8220;If you can’t be excited about winning gold at the Olympics— including in OT vs Canada, you don’t have a pulse. Some people will pick victimhood and being miserable over having an ounce of patriotism. Good luck,&#8221; Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin wrote on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
If you can’t be excited about winning gold at the Olympics— including in OT vs Canada, you don’t have a pulse.
Some people will pick victimhood and being miserable over having an ounce of patriotism. Good luck. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/3bRT9ONwWs">https://t.co/3bRT9ONwWs</a> <a href="https://t.co/deLxmJJ3vw">pic.twitter.com/deLxmJJ3vw</a>
&mdash; Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMullin/status/2025656019481661520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Axios acknowledged the celebratory environment but also <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/22/maga-hockey-olympics-gold-medal-canada">threw cold water</a> on the excitement, writing: “Celebrating American athletes is nothing new — but in a hyper-partisan political environment, the president and MAGA world voices have also used their platforms to boo some U.S. talent.”
The Left mocking the patriotic Olympic moments is not new. During the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Time Magazine<a href="https://time.com/8473/its-time-to-get-over-the-miracle-on-ice/?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> downplayed</a> the legacy of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” writing: “In the professional sporting press, references to the Miracle on Ice have become a grating cliché, much more likely to inspire a cringe in the context of Sochi than a wistful stare into the distance.”

Ice Hockey – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 16

HuffPost Mocks Team USA Pride — Americans Clap Back

Hockey

Olympics

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
It is perhaps inevitable that a major global event such as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/winter-olympics">Olympic Games</a> will become politicized. From the Nazi appropriation of the 1936 Berlin Games to the long Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, competition has always taken on what Al Michaels <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR56GJ05IMs&amp;t=5s">once called</a> a “nationalistic sense.” But at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games happening now, the media have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-do-olympians-feel-about-representing-the-u-s-at-winter-games">pushed</a> things to a whole new level. Journalists seem intent on turning Olympians into politicians.
The real flashpoint was <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-olympian-hunter-hess-responds-trump-loser/">an interview</a> with Team USA skier Hunter Hess. During a press conference, he was goaded into expressing his personal disagreements with certain Trump administration policies. “Just because I&#8217;m wearing the flag doesn&#8217;t mean I represent everything that&#8217;s going on in the U.S.,” he said. President Donald Trump himself shot back, calling Hess a “real loser.” The whole thing has turned into a media circus, distracting from the excellence all Team USA athletes have been pursuing.
To some extent, the media’s agenda here is pretty straightforward; politicization and incendiary headlines drive clicks and social media views. But there is also a real double standard that ought to outrage all Olympics fans and American citizens. Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier born and educated in the United States but competing for the People’s Republic of China, has mostly escaped questions about the Chinese Communist Party’s totalitarian atrocities. NBC, which broadcasts the Olympics in the United States, has even <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/nbc-lavishes-praise-on-american-born-olympic-skier-competing-for-china/">tried making</a> Gu into a star. The Today show did not ask her about the persecution of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jimmy-lai">Jimmy Lai</a> or the genocide of the Uyghur people, even while NBC has covered statements American athletes have made about U.S. immigration policy or social issues.
Unlike China, the U.S. government does not pay our athletes. The United States Olympic Committee is a federally chartered nonprofit and funded entirely by private sources. American Olympians may receive corporate sponsorships, but putting on the red, white, and blue and competing for our people is a sacrifice in a way that is not the case for other countries. These athletes are not hirelings; they find a way to turn the pursuit of personal excellence into an act of genuine patriotism. Authoritarian regimes can try buying themselves medals by recruiting mercenaries such as Gu, but they will never be able to purchase that genuine Olympic spirit.
There have been plenty of inspiring stories about American athletes at these games, but none provides a starker contrast with Gu than Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu. She was a star as a teenager, but she <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/alysa-liu-rcna252418">retired</a> at the age of 16 to focus on living a normal life. Liu made a triumphant return to the world of figure skating in 2024, and she often <a href="https://usfigureskating.org/news/2026/1/30/national-team-figure-skating-liu-rejects-conventional-wisdom-while-embracing-artistry.aspx">explains</a> that her sport has become a kind of art. Already a gold medalist in the team event, Liu is currently positioned to medal again in the individual competition. Her skating is remarkably beautiful, a true wonder to behold.
Equally fascinating, though, is the political backdrop of Liu’s young career. Like Gu, she is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant to the United States. But unlike the skier, her family holds no illusions about the CCP’s tyranny. Liu’s father Arthur was <a href="https://abc7news.com/archive/6847285/">deeply involved</a> with the Chinese Democracy Movement in the 1980s, joining the protests at Tiananmen Square and witnessing the subsequent massacre firsthand. He has always been a vocal critic of the communist regime and is, in no uncertain terms, a political refugee.
The CCP initially tried recruiting Liu to skate for it under the same “naturalization program” that sponsored Gu’s defection. Given her family’s firsthand experience of communist oppression, though, she understandably rebuffed the effort. The CCP, however, would not take no for an answer. In 2022, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/16/china-targeted-dad-of-olympic-figure-skater-alysa-liu-new-doj-case-says.html">the Department of Justice charged</a> Chinese agents with conducting an intimidation campaign against the Liu family and other Chinese Americans critical of the regime. Apparently, one spy even <a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-sports-crime-figure-skating-beijing-3cd135005bb769b507199012cd5a0d22">pretended</a> to be a USOC official to steal information from the Lius. The State Department even had to take special precautions to protect Alysa Liu when she competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Perhaps the most American part of the story, though, is that Liu has used her massive platform as a figure skating star to shine the light on her father’s sacrifices and the fight for human rights. “Honestly I would just have the main focus be my dad&#8217;s story because his story is so cool and also everything … happened because of what he did,” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-figure-skater-alysa-liu-opens-up-being-targeted-chinese-spying-operation-fbis-protection">she said at a media summit in 2025</a>. “So, like I feel like we got to start with the roots.” 
“We represent the people,” she said in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-NL37UpSRU">another interview</a> when asked about patriotism at the games. Liu is only 20 years old, but already she understands that the flag she competes under means something more than nationalistic pride; it symbolizes the hope of freedom for millions worldwide. 
Authoritarian regimes in places such as China, Iran, and Russia have always sought to use the Olympic Games to promote their ideologies, and the commercial media are all too willing to turn a blind eye or even become complicit. But stories such as Liu’s, and those of other patriotic American athletes, demonstrate in no uncertain terms how incompatible that goal is with the true Olympic spirit. The freedom American athletes enjoy — even to criticize their own country — is in fact the reason why we consistently embody such excellence at the games. And that’s nothing to apologize for.
***
Michael Lucchese is the founder of <a href="http://www.pipecreekconsulting.com/">Pipe Creek Consulting</a>, an associate editor of <a href="https://lawliberty.org/author/mluccheselibertyfund-org/">Law &amp; Liberty</a>, and a contributing editor to <a href="https://providencemag.com/authors/michael-lucchese/">Providence</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Figure Skating – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 1

The Olympics Controversy That’s Suddenly About America Itself

China

Media

Upstream

The Kennedy Center is bringing a patriotic new change to concerts at the Washington, D.C., performing arts center ahead of America’s 250th birthday, The Daily Wire has learned.
Every performance of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center throughout the 2025-2026 season will begin with the National Anthem. The move coincides with plans from the Trump administration to celebrate the 250 anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next summer.
“The National Symphony should be playing the National Anthem,” Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell said.
The National Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1931 and performs around 150 concerts annually.
The move is the latest change at the Kennedy Center since President Donald Trump promised to end wokeness at the performing arts center. As part of this move, Trump became chair of the center and tapped Grenell to serve as its president.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The changes the new board made led to full-scale meltdowns on the Left, including protests expressed through interpretive dancing.
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According to a previous report published by The Daily Wire, the Kennedy Center is $40 million in debt and will be making major cuts to staff.
“The former leadership built a broken budget with an operating deficit of 100 million dollars and a bottom-line deficit of 26 million dollars,” CFO Donna Arduin said. “The former leadership led Board members to believe there was a balanced budget when there was $26 Million in false funds. Fiscal Year 25 budget was previously passed with $26M of fictitious funds. We have now truly balanced the budget.”
To get the Center out of the red, Grenell “has hired new Department leaders with lower salaries than those they replaced, including his salary which is dramatically lower than the previous President’s.”
The CFO also said that the Kennedy Center “will adopt business practices with performance goals to bring accountability to our patrons and philanthropists.”

US-CULTURE-KENNEDY

Patriotic Change Coming To The Kennedy Center Ahead Of America’s 250th

Donald Trump

Kennedy Center

Music

Ric Grenell

Washington D.C.

Wokeness

Puerto Rican recording artist Bad Bunny is getting slammed for a video clip that appears to show him remaining seated during the singing of “God Bless America” at the New York Yankees game Tuesday night.
The <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/08/bad-bunny-remains-seated-during-god-bless-america/?adid=social-tw">short clip</a>, first shared with TMZ, reported as not having any common indicators of AI generation, includes the crowd singing “guide her,” which is part of the line “stand beside her and guide her.”
The U.S. Flag Code recommends standing, placing your hand over your heart, and facing the flag when “The Star-Spangled Banner” is sung, but it makes no similar recommendations for “God Bless America.” However, it is seen as a sign of respect to stand for the song during sporting events, and most individuals seated near Bad Bunny at the Yankees game are seen standing in the clip. The custom started after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when MLB started playing “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch to honor first responders, victims, and the military.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXCLUSIVE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXCLUSIVE</a> 🚨 Bad Bunny remained seated during &#8216;God Bless America&#8217; at a Yankees Game, video shows. <a href="https://t.co/jKOfQ4Qj3G">https://t.co/jKOfQ4Qj3G</a> <a href="https://t.co/rkP9NnGgdH">pic.twitter.com/rkP9NnGgdH</a>
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1976005408708763998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The recording artist, whose legal name is Benito Ocasio, has already frustrated many Americans who believe he has disrespected the United States. Ocasio was selected to perform at Super Bowl LX in February despite previously refusing to tour in the United States due to his anti-ICE stance.
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Ocasio referred to ICE agents as “motherf***ers” and “sons of b****es” in a video he posted to Instagram.
The three-time Grammy Award-winner said during a recent interview that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.
“There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Social media users also pointed out that none of Bad Bunny’s songs are in English.
He later addressed the backlash he and the NFL received following the Super Bowl halftime announcement, advising viewers to learn Spanish if they didn’t like it.
Bad Bunny did part of his monologue in Spanish during a recent appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” The singer then switched to English, saying, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
There have been calls to boycott the NFL and replace Bad Bunny as the halftime performer ever since the announcement was made. 
President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-absolutely-ridiculous-that-nfl-chose-bad-bunny-for-super-bowl-halftime-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weighed in</a> on Bad Bunny being chosen as the Super Bowl halftime performer, saying, “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s crazy, and then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Bad Bunny

Super Bowl Halftime Performer Bad Bunny Refuses To Stand For ‘God Bless America’

Super Bowl Halftime Performer Bad Bunny Refuses To Stand For 'God Bless America'

Celebrities

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Major League Baseball

New York

New York City

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singer

Super Bowl

Today is September 11. And in our house, we’re going to talk about it.
Not because it’s easy. Not because I like reliving it. But because I don’t want my kids to grow up as part of a generation that doesn’t know what 9/11 was, how it changed America, and what Americans did the very next day. Too many of their peers were not alive when it happened. For them, 9/11 is a date in a history book, not a memory. That cannot be enough.
So, we talk about it. Because if you don’t understand 9/11, you can’t understand 9/12. And 9/12 may be the most important lesson I can pass on to them.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked by Islamic terrorists. Two were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. One struck the Pentagon. Another, thanks to the courage of everyday Americans on United Flight 93, crashed into a Pennsylvania field before it could hit the U.S. Capitol. Nearly 3,000 Americans were killed in just a few hours. They were moms and dads, office workers and firefighters, cops and soldiers, priests and business travelers — ordinary people who never came home.
I was in high school that morning. We watched the towers fall on classroom televisions. We were kids at the start of the day, but by the time the final bell rang, we were something else — patriots.
9/11 called an entire generation to grow up overnight. So many of my peers walked out of those classrooms and into recruiting stations. They became Marines, soldiers, cops, and first responders because the attack demanded it. The service members and veterans we thank today? So many of them answered the call that 9/11 put in their hearts.
But my kids’ generation didn’t live through that change. They don’t remember a time when you could walk straight to the gate at the airport, or enter a football game without passing through metal detectors. They don’t know what it was like to carry a bottle of water or a pocket knife in your bag without having it confiscated. To them, the TSA line is normal. Bag checks are normal. “Clear backpacks only” is normal. They don’t know those small freedoms that were taken from them on that day.
So yes, 9/11 gave us a wave of patriotism, but it also reshaped everyday American life. Both things matter. Both are worth remembering.
But here’s why I really want my kids to know the story: because of what happened the next day.
On September 12, America woke up a different nation. Flags went up on porches and front yards. Blood drives stretched around the block. Churches overflowed. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Members of Congress stood shoulder to shoulder on the Capitol steps and sang “God Bless America.”
On September 12, we remembered what it meant to be one nation, under God, indivisible. We were no longer just individuals living separate lives — we were a people united by grief, courage, and conviction. That unity didn’t erase the loss, but it gave us the strength to carry it.
That’s the America I want my kids to know. Not the horror of 9/11, but the spirit of 9/12. A spirit that says when evil strikes, we don’t crumble — we come together. We sacrifice. We pray. We rebuild.
And this is where I speak not just to my kids, but to every young American who wasn’t alive on that day: don’t miss the lesson of 9/12. A moment where we put country above party, neighbors above politics, faith above fear. Right now, too many young people know hashtags more than history, outrage more than patriotism, division more than devotion. We need to show them what unity looks like — not just in times of tragedy, but in the everyday life of a free people.
That’s why we remember. Forgetting dishonors the dead. Forgetting risks repeating history. Forgetting blinds us to what true courage and unity look like.
The heroes of 9/11 weren’t only those in uniform. They were firefighters who climbed the towers, passengers on Flight 93 who stormed the cockpit, cops who ran toward danger, priests who prayed with the dying, and ordinary citizens who found extraordinary strength. That’s the America my kids need to see. That’s the America worth passing on.
So how do we live like 9/11 still matters? We start at home. We teach our kids that freedom isn’t free, that evil exists and must be confronted, that courage is contagious, and that sacrifice is noble. We live it in our communities — by showing up, by serving, by choosing unity over division. And we live it in faith. After 9/11, churches were full because people knew God was bigger than the rubble, stronger than the fear, and the only true source of peace. That hasn’t changed. Our families still need Him. Our country still needs Him.
Why haven’t we had another 9/11? There are complicated answers — yes, our military and intelligence have grown stronger, yes, we built defenses. But the deeper reason is that the world saw what happens when America is attacked: we wake up, we fight back, and we do not forget. The terrorists wanted to break us. Instead, they revealed our strength. They underestimated the American spirit — the same spirit that stormed Normandy, landed on the moon, and rebuilt after Pearl Harbor.
That’s what I want my kids to understand. That remembering 9/11 isn’t about clinging to grief — it’s about carrying forward courage. It’s about being the kind of American who runs toward the fire, who checks on their neighbor, who raises the flag without shame.
Never forget. Not just the terror of 9/11, but the unity of 9/12. That’s the legacy worth passing on. That’s the America worth teaching to our children.
Gates Garcia is the host of the YouTube show and podcast “We The People.” Follow him on Instagram and X @GatesGarciaFL.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

9/11 Tribute

Why I’m Teaching My Kids About The Spirit Of 9/12

9/11

America

Gen Z

Earlier this month, I attended a baseball game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
I wasn’t there to see the Cardinals, but the Savannah Bananas, baseball’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. The Bananas dance, sing, and interact with the crowd throughout their games.
But for all that showmanship, the most remarkable thing I saw during the game happened off the field.
When “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, everyone stood, and the stadium fell silent. Those wearing hats removed them, and nearly everyone placed their hands over their hearts.
I glanced at the family standing next to me and saw a girl, around four years old, in her father’s arms. As the anthem played, she looked around — quiet, wide-eyed, and attentive. She pointed to the American flags flying around the stadium and displayed on the big screen. It was clear this was her first time experiencing this special ritual. When the anthem ended and the crowd erupted in applause, she hugged her dad and said, “That was nice.”
Moments like this remind us why standing for the anthem matters. It’s not simply a tradition or a requirement before a sports event; it’s a collective expression of unity and shared identity.
When the anthem plays, regardless of who we are or where we come from, we pause to recognize the freedoms and sacrifices that built this country.
Standing is a simple gesture with profound meaning. It honors the men and women who have served and continue to serve in the military, many of whom have given their lives so that we can enjoy the liberties we often take for granted. It also symbolizes deference for the struggles and progress that have shaped our nation’s history — from our founding ideals to the ongoing work of fulfilling those promises for all Americans.
For that little girl, the anthem was a memorable first impression of what patriotism looks like. Children learn not by what we tell them, but by what they see and experience. In a stadium of thousands, she witnessed what dignity, respect, and unity can look like when we rise not just as individuals but as one nation. That’s how a sense of national pride is passed on: quietly and powerfully.
Critics argue that patriotism is complicated, that history is flawed, and that our symbols don’t hold the same meaning for everyone. Those are valid conversations. But standing for the anthem doesn’t ignore our imperfections; it acknowledges our shared hope that this country, for all its faults, is still worth honoring. It’s not about blind allegiance; it’s about an ongoing commitment to each other and the idea of America.
In a time when division often dominates headlines, standing for “The Star-Spangled Banner” remains one of the few collective acts that can still bring people together — even if it’s only for under two minutes. It’s an opportunity for us to be reminded, and to teach our kids, that we’re fortunate to live in such a fantastic country.
That little girl may not fully understand what the flag means or why the anthem stirs emotion, but one day she will. And when she does, perhaps she’ll remember how it felt to see thousands of people at a Bananas game pause, stand, and express love of our country — not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.
Dr. David Lenihan is the CEO of <a href="https://phsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ponce Health Sciences University</a>, a fully-accredited medical school with campuses in St. Louis and Puerto Rico. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Milwaukee Brewers v. New York Mets

Why We Stand For The National Anthem

Baseball

National Anthem

Let’s be real: most of us aren’t crossing the Delaware this 4th of July. We’re crossing the backyard in flip-flops to open the cooler. And that’s fine. That’s American, even. But while we’re manning the grill and dodging bottle rockets, we’d do well to remember: this day isn’t just about fireworks and flag-themed cupcakes. It’s about something far rarer — and far more worth preserving.
Because America didn’t just happen. It was made — and paid for.
Two hundred and forty-nine years ago, a bunch of men in powdered wigs looked at the most powerful empire on Earth and said, “Nah—we’re going to try something different. Hold my beer.” They didn’t tweet about tyranny. They fought it. They signed their names on a document that would’ve earned them a hangman’s rope had things gone south. And then they backed it up — starving, freezing, bleeding, and winning, so that one day you and I could argue over gas prices and post pics on Instagram.
They weren’t fighting for tax credits or better trade deals. They were fighting for the radical belief that our rights come from God, not government. And they risked everything for it.
We, by comparison, are just risking the brisket.
But maybe that’s the point. You don’t have to be Washington at Valley Forge to honor the Spirit of ’76. You just have to be intentional. You just have to remember.
Because the truth is, most Americans today couldn’t name five Founders. Some think the Revolutionary War was a Marvel spinoff. And every summer, like clockwork, the usual suspects try to reduce the Founding to a footnote in oppression — something to apologize for, not admire.
But the American Founding wasn’t a mistake. It was a miracle. Were the Founders flawed men? Sure. We all are. But the system they built — this Constitutional Republic grounded in natural rights and self-government — is still the greatest experiment in liberty the world has ever seen.
And it’s worth celebrating.
So, this Independence Day, take a minute — take five — to appreciate not just the fireworks, but the fire that lit the Revolution.
Maybe take some time to think about Jack Jouett. You’ve probably never heard his name. But when British troops were closing in on Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Legislature, Jouett rode through the night, 40 miles on rough terrain, branches slashing his face, to warn them.
He didn’t do it for fame. He didn’t expect a reward. He was just a regular guy who refused to let tyranny win on his watch.
So too were the legions of cold, hungry, bleeding men in Washington’s army who crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776. They marched barefoot through the snow to launch a surprise attack on a Hessian outpost in Trenton. Some died before the battle even began. But the rest fought, and they won. And with that win, the Revolution roared back to life.
These weren’t abstract ideals on parchment. These were men, enduring literal hell so that future generations could taste Heaven’s gift: liberty.
And that gift has only survived this long because, in every generation, regular people stepped up to keep it alive.
That includes you.
John Adams said, “Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”
So, if you want to make good use of it, here’s your checklist for a meaningful 4th of July:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Read the Declaration of Independence with your kids. Yes, even if they roll their eyes. Especially if they roll their eyes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Fly the flag. Not because it looks good on your porch, but because you know what it cost.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ask your kids what freedom means to them. Not a lecture — a conversation. They’re starving for meaning. Feed them something real.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Turn off TikTok. Read a chapter of the Federalist Papers. Or watch The Patriot instead of a reality show about people with fake names and real dysfunction.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Say grace. And thank God you live in a country where you can.</li>
</ul>
And if you’re Gen Z, no one expects you to recite the Constitution from memory. But maybe — just maybe — start asking questions. Read a book. Volunteer. Serve your neighbor. Build something with your hands. Log some service hours instead of screentime.
Because guess what? Next year is America’s 250th birthday. That’s not just a milestone. It’s a moment. A year from now, when the fireworks explode and the flags wave, don’t be the one just snapping selfies. Be the one who knows why it matters. Let this year be your warm-up lap. Spend the next 12 months loading the intellectual cannons. Read the Founding documents. Relearn the history. Equip yourself with truth.
Because if America is going to survive another 250 years, it won’t be because we got more “progressive.” It won’t be because of people like Barack Obama, who infamously said “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”
No, if America is to survive, it will be thanks to people who fought to conserve who we are: a nation under God. A people forged in sacrifice. A Republic—if we can keep it.
You can’t defend a country you refuse to define. And you certainly can’t celebrate one you won’t even elevate.
So, fire up the Weber. Salute the flag. Tell your kids the truth. Thank the ones who served. And say a prayer for the country that lets you do all five without asking permission.
We don’t need more guilt. We need more gratitude.
We don’t need perfect people. We need present patriots.
And we don’t need another political lecture. We need more parents, more truth, more God, more America.
Now, hold my beer. The brisket is burning.
Gates Garcia is the host of the YouTube show and podcast We The People. Follow him on IG and X @GatesGarciaFL
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Friends celebrating Forth of July

The Everyday American’s Guide To The Fourth Of July

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The Army confirmed on Friday that a massive military parade featuring 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, and 50 helicopters will be held on President Donald Trump&#8217;s 79th birthday as part of the service&#8217;s 250th anniversary celebration.
The parade will follow a route from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall and has been submitted for classification as a &#8220;national special security event,&#8221; bringing additional federal resources to secure the area, PBS <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/army-confirms-military-parade-for-its-250th-anniversary-will-be-held-on-trumps-birthday">reported</a>.
White House officials confirmed the commemorative parade would be one of the first events to kick off a yearlong celebration of the nation&#8217;s 250th anniversary planned through July 4, 2026.
&#8220;The Army is celebrating its 250th Birthday with multiple events leading up to June 14,&#8221; the Army <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/7000-troops-tanks-parachute-jumps-military-parade-coinciding/story?id=121410722">said</a> in a statement Friday evening. &#8220;The national level celebration will include a spectacular fireworks display, a parade, and a day-long festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The festival will feature displays of Army equipment, military demonstrations, musical performances, and a fitness competition.&#8221;
&#8220;Parade planning is actively underway, and we anticipate approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 Soldiers to highlight the Army’s 250 years of service to the nation,&#8221; it added.
President Trump has advocated for a military parade since witnessing France&#8217;s Bastille Day celebration in 2017, with White House-Pentagon discussions for this event beginning just two months ago. The parade fulfills Trump&#8217;s vision that was previously unrealized when a similar plan during his first term was reportedly cancelled.
According to military planning documents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-military-parade-birthday-2f5cd12c8ccd4efddc29bfa3cf8f2705">obtained</a> by the AP, the massive display will include soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide, and Stryker vehicles, tanks, Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery, and Howitzers are expected in a display of American military power.
Army spokesman Steve Warren stated the Army is looking at options &#8220;to make the celebration even bigger, with more capability demonstrations, additional displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community.&#8221; The late afternoon parade will be followed by a parachute jump by the Golden Knights, a concert, and a &#8220;spectacular fireworks display.&#8221;
Beyond military units, the parade is expected to include civilian participation with historical vehicles, aircraft, representatives from veterans groups, military colleges, and historical reenactor organizations.

The Inauguration Of Donald J. Trump As The 47th President

Army Announces Massive 250th Anniversary Parade To Be Held On Trump’s Birthday

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As fans roared at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 12, they weren’t just cheering on the fighters entering the Octagon. The thousands of people in attendance at UFC 314 were taking part in a sport that has gripped Americans — especially young men — through traditional courage and patriotism. 
The UFC has surged in popularity in recent years, not just as the premier MMA organization in all of combat sports, but as a cultural force to be reckoned with. Unbridled athleticism and the ferocious skills of its fighters are the initial draw, but that&#8217;s only the beginning. The UFC&#8217;s unapologetic embrace of courage and patriotism resonates deeply with a growing fanbase, especially as other sports leagues, such as the NBA and NFL, fell prey to woke BS.
The sport celebrates physical and mental toughness above all else. Fans are drawn to the unfiltered intensity. Promos showcase blood, sweat, and stoicism as warriors stare down their opponents. The UFC resonates with Americans who have grown tired of cultural leftism disparaging manliness and dismissing traditional male virtues to exhaustion. 
The UFC isn’t afraid of honoring the United States of America and its military veterans, first responders, and values either. Even in a sport that has representation from countries across the globe, respect for the United States is paramount. Fighters often wrap themselves in their nation’s colors, and post-fight interviews are peppered with shout-outs to the troops or expressions of national pride. This overt patriotism strikes a chord with fans who see the UFC as a bastion of unapologetic love for country. 
President Donald Trump adds to this allure. During UFC 314, the president walked into the packed arena to the chants of “USA!” as he appeared on the big screen. Trump’s appearances at UFC fights are not just celebrity cameos — they’re symbolic endorsements of the UFC’s ethos. For many fans, seeing Trump in the octagon reinforces the UFC as an arena where their values are celebrated, not challenged.
It’s no surprise that <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy’s Razors</a> is proud to be the official razor partner of the UFC. Americans deserve to participate in a sport that makes them proud of their heritage and values, and they deserve a razor that will give them a quality shave without nicks, cuts, or criticisms of their hard-fought beliefs.

UFC Fight Night

The UFC Is Thriving On Courage And Patriotism

Jeremy's Razors

President Donald Trump announced today he will personally fund the installation of two nearly 100-foot-tall American flags at the White House, declaring that the presidential residence has &#8220;needed flagpoles for 200 years.&#8221;
The President was spotted Wednesday morning with White House groundskeepers surveying the north side of the grounds, gesturing to demonstrate where the massive flagpoles would stand.
&#8220;We&#8217;re putting up a beautiful, almost 100-foot-tall American flag on this side and another one on the other side, two flags, top of the line,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/23/us-news/trump-announces-self-funded-change-to-white-house/">told</a> reporters outside the White House, per the New York Post.
The two flags, to be positioned on the North and the South Lawns respectively, will significantly alter the White House&#8217;s exterior appearance, making the American flag more prominently visible from multiple vantage points around the presidential residence.
Currently, there is no freestanding flagpole on the White House property, with the only American flag flying from the top of the building itself.
&#8220;They needed flagpoles for 200 years. It was something I&#8217;ve often said, you know, they don&#8217;t have a flagpole per se,&#8221; Trump explained to reporters. &#8220;So we&#8217;re putting one right where you saw us, and we&#8217;re putting another one on the other side, on top of the mounds. It&#8217;s going to be two beautiful poles.&#8221;
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President Trump: &quot;We&#39;re putting up a beautiful, almost 100 foot tall, American flag&#8230;they&#39;ve needed flag poles for 200 years.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/AxTJul7Z2K">pic.twitter.com/AxTJul7Z2K</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1915065116300558484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump emphasized that the new additions would be &#8220;paid for by Trump,&#8221; noting the flags are scheduled to arrive next week.
The patriotic addition is part of several changes Trump has made since returning to office, the Post reports, including transforming the Oval Office with more portraits of past presidents and gold-accented decorations reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago estate.
He has also announced plans to rebuild the Rose Garden with an artificial platform instead of grass to make it more practical for hosting events without dealing with soggy ground.
Trump previously proposed building a $100 million ballroom at the White House during the Biden administration, but apparently &#8220;never heard back.&#8221;
The President stated his intention to carry out the proposal himself to create more room for ceremonies without requiring massive, bulky tents.
The President recently <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/08/us-news/trump-uses-golden-shovel-to-plant-replacement-for-historic-jackson-magnolia/">participated</a> in planting a replacement for the historic Jackson Magnolia on the South Lawn, using a golden shovel to plant a 12-year-old sapling that is reportedly a descendant of the original tree, which was nearly 200 years old and had been deemed a safety hazard.
Previous presidents have similarly made changes to the executive residence, from Jackie Kennedy&#8217;s historic restoration efforts to the Obama family&#8217;s addition of a vegetable garden.

President Trump Inspects White House North Lawn For New Flagpole Placement

Trump To Personally Fund New Patriotic Addition To White House Grounds

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