The weather might not be the only thing heating up this week. As America heads into Independence Day and the nation's 250th birthday, the country has plenty to celebrate.

The United States, alongside Canada and Mexico, is hosting the biggest sporting event in the world, the World Cup. The U.S. Men's National Team advanced to the Round of 16 Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina and now faces Belgium in a highly anticipated rematch of their 2014 World Cup showdown.

FIFA projects the tournament will generate billions of dollars in economic activity and support roughly 180,000 jobs. As Just the News reported last month, people from around the world are appreciating all America has to offer.  From large fountain drinks and massive gas stations to late-night visits to Waffle House, many of the everyday sights Americans take for granted have now become attractions of their own for international fans visiting the U.S.

President Donald Trump is also coming off a visit to Medora, North Dakota, where he toured the new 96,000-square-foot presidential library honoring former President Theodore Roosevelt, which officially opens on the Fourth of July.

"As America turns 250 years old, we look at this remarkable man, and we recall that with effort, determination and drive, there is nothing that Americans of competence can’t do," President Trump said during his remarks.

Just over a year into his pontificate, Chicago native Pope Leo XIV is set to receive the 2026 Liberty Medal in Philadelphia, speaking virtually to those gathered steps away from Independence Hall.

“The award recognizes the Holy Father’s lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world, ideals enshrined by America’s founders in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” said the National Constitution Center in a statement. Another notable moment for the nation on the world stage.

Meanwhile, efforts to formally end the conflict between the United States and Iran continue, with officials from both countries meeting in Doha, Qatar, earlier this week. Oil has dropped to under $70 a barrel, and gas prices have continued to decline. The unemployment rate also stands at 4.2%, its lowest level in a year.

Yet beneath the headlines lies a different story about how some Americans feel this upcoming Fourth of July.

Pride in America has declined in recent years, particularly among Democrats and younger adults. According to a recent Gallup poll, a record-low 58% of Americans say they are either extremely or very proud of their country, including just 36% of Democrats and 41% of Generation Z surveyed.

As millions of Americans come together this weekend to enjoy their Fourth of July, there is reason to celebrate. With 250 years of independence, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness continues. 

Throughout its 250-year history, the nation has seen wars, economic hardship, political division, and significant cultural change. But through it all, America has endured. Creating opportunities for generation after generation to pursue, win, and keep the American dream alive.

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