The last few years have tested the NATO alliance like few periods in its history. Divisions over burden-sharing, threat perceptions, and sharp disagreements on conflicts beyond Europe have strained the alliance. But America should not turn away from NATO. We need a strong, capable NATO more than ever — one that is modernized and reformed to meet today’s threats, not abandoned over the frustrations of the moment. NATO has weathered deep divisions before. During the 1956 Suez Crisis, the United States strongly opposed the military actions of Britain and France in Egypt, exposing sharp transatlantic rifts and prompting European accusations of American unreliability. In the early 1960s, French President Charles de Gaulle, frustrated with American dominance, withdrew France from NATO’s integrated military command structure in 1966, ordered U.S. and NATO troops to leave French soil, and developed an independent French nuclear force. During the Vietnam era, there was strong European opposition to the war, with massive protests across the continent and open criticism from NATO governments. And in 2003, the alliance fractured bitterly over the Iraq War: France and Germany led the opposition, blocking NATO consensus on providing direct support to Turkey and prompting Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s famous distinction between “Old Europe” and “New Europe.” But each time, predictions of NATO’s demise were proven wrong. The alliance endured — and emerged stronger — because its core strategic logic remains sound: American security depends on a secure Europe. That logic was never clearer than in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. For the first time in its history, NATO invoked Article 5 — the collective defense clause — on behalf of the United States. European allies joined American forces in Afghanistan to dismantle al Qaeda and deny these terrorists a safe haven. More than 1,100 troops from NATO allies made the ultimate sacrifice in that conflict, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. forces. When our homeland was attacked, the NATO alliance came to America’s aid. Recent tensions have been painful. I regret that many NATO states failed to support the United States and Israel during the 2026 war against Iran. Some went further, refusing to allow the use of NATO bases and facilities for American operations. This was a serious mistake that badly damaged trust and deepened divisions within the alliance. Allies should support one another when vital interests are at stake, not selectively opt out. Critics of an open-ended U.S. commitment to NATO have made serious arguments that decades of American security guarantees have given Europe little incentive to invest seriously in its own defense, leaving European militaries plagued by fragmented procurement, duplicated systems, hollowed-out logistics, and critical shortfalls in airlift, air defense, and precision munitions — gaps that spending percentages alone cannot fix. Past efforts at reform, such as the 2014 Wales pledge, produced little until Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine created an immediate threat to Europe, lending credence to the view that only a firm U.S. drawdown could force European capitals to invest sufficiently in their own defense. But this argument has a serious flaw: it assumes that a significant European buildup will automatically follow an American withdrawal, when in reality it could create dangerous gaps that Russia would exploit. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also has firmly rejected any notion that the alliance can move on without the United States. Speaking earlier this year, Rutte warned European leaders: “If anyone thinks here … that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You can’t.” He emphasized that Europe would lose the vital U.S. nuclear umbrella and would need to more than double its defense spending to even approach strategic autonomy — goals that remain unrealistic in the near term. Despite recent tensions in the alliance, real progress is being made. For the first time in NATO’s history, every one of its 32 members met or exceeded the 2% of GDP defense spending target in 2025 — a dramatic improvement from just three countries in 2014. In response to strong pressure from President Trump, European allies and Canada increased defense spending by 20% last year, bringing the collective total to more than $574 billion. NATO’s frontline states have gone even further: Poland reached 4.48% of GDP, while Lithuania and Latvia both exceeded 3.7%. Our NATO allies did not stop at 2%: at the 2025 Hague Summit, members agreed to a far more ambitious target of 5% of GDP by 2035, with 3.5% dedicated to core military spending and the remaining 1.5% directed toward broader security-related infrastructure and civilian resilience. That commitment, if honored, would represent the most significant peacetime increase in allied defense investment in the alliance’s history. Many long-neglected NATO militaries are finally receiving major new investments in modern equipment, munitions stockpiles, and overall readiness. Support for Ukraine has also broadened and deepened, with European states and Canada providing more total aid than the United States since the Russian invasion began and committing billions more through mechanisms such as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). These steps matter because a stronger European security pillar reduces the burden on U.S. forces and makes the alliance more resilient. And let’s be clear: the United States is not pulling out of NATO or Europe. At the Munich Security Conference in February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made this explicit, declaring that “America is not retreating but reimagining and modernizing its relationship with the alliance.” Polls consistently show broad support among the American public for NATO, and Congress has repeatedly reaffirmed that commitment with overwhelming bipartisan margins. There is simply no realistic path toward withdrawal. What must change is the NATO distribution of labor. European NATO members need to take primary responsibility for defending their region against Russia. At the same time, the United States must reposition some of its forces to address urgent security challenges in other areas of the globe — in the Western Hemisphere and to deter China and North Korea in the Indo-Pacific. America cannot be everywhere at full strength simultaneously. A capable Europe frees American resources to focus on priorities only Washington can fully address. Far from obsolete, NATO today is stronger than it has been in decades, serving as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Ukraine’s recent battlefield gains, including the effective use of long-range drones that have struck Moscow, St. Petersburg, and crucial oil refiners across Russia, would have been impossible without the sustained training, intelligence, equipment, and logistical support provided through the NATO framework. That backstop has imposed real costs on Moscow while demonstrating the alliance’s value in deterring wider war. The United States and Europe must redouble their efforts to strengthen and modernize the alliance. The Trump administration should continue pressing NATO members on defense spending targets and capability gaps. European members need to build credible conventional forces, expand munitions stockpiles, and revitalize their defense industrial bases. Together, both sides of the Atlantic should update NATO’s command structures, accelerate the integration of emerging technologies, and establish clearer divisions of responsibility for out-of-area contingencies. This work will be put to the test at the NATO Summit in Ankara next week, NATO’s first gathering in Turkey since the landmark 2004 Istanbul summit. Secretary General Rutte has signaled that alliance members will use the summit to announce tens of billions of dollars in new defense industrial contracts and to press European members to make their 5%-by-2035 pledge a binding commitment rather than an aspirational target. The Ankara summit’s opening day will be a “Defense Industry Forum” aimed at addressing the fragmentation, bureaucracy, and slow pace of production that have long hampered European arms production. How NATO members handle Ankara, whether they agree to concrete procurement deals and a roadmap for closing Europe’s capability gaps, or leave without agreement on many commitments, will say a lot about whether the new NATO reform is durable. NATO has never been perfect. It has always required hard bargaining and mutual compromise. But in a world of growing threats, this transatlantic alliance remains America’s most valuable force multiplier. A stronger, fairer, more capable NATO serves U.S. interests, protects shared democratic values, and can deter conflicts. This is no time for America to walk away from the crucial NATO alliance. It is time to renew and reinforce this alliance that has kept the peace in Europe for three-quarters of a century. *** Fred Fleitz previously served as Chief of Staff of the Trump National Security Council. He is the author of North Korea, Nuclear Brinkmanship, and the Oval Office, which was just released by Texas A&M Press.

This week, we mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout our history, one facet has remained constant: the resolve of the American warfighter. From Lexington and Concord to Fallujah, Americans have fought with all the strength God gave them to protect this country and its people from those who wish us harm. Those challenges have only grown more complex. The Founders could not have imagined that some of our closest allies were once our adversaries, or that the gravest threats to our way of life would come from forces they never conceived of. Near-peer adversaries like China test us every day, seeking to divide Americans from within, manufacturing the chemical precursors used to produce fentanyl, stealing our innovation, and running influence campaigns built to turn Americans against one another. Countering them takes more than technology or policy. It takes the strength of the Americans in uniform, the ones willing to give their last breath so that others may live. Supporting those soldiers requires real investment and hard conversations. The all-volunteer force is exactly that: all volunteer. Sustaining it is not just a matter of operations or munitions depth. People are America’s greatest military advantage: the enlisted warfighter sleeping in the dirt, the noncommissioned officer corps that sets us apart from every other military on earth, and the officers entrusted with making decisions that affect the lives of our service members and their families. America could not have reached its 250th year without service and sacrifice. Generations of Americans built and defended the foundation of freedom we stand on today, and the threats to that freedom are not going away. Honoring that legacy means supporting our servicemen in every way we can. In Congress, that means robustly funding the Department of War, scrapping outdated policies that hinder the warfighter, and ensuring our forces have the tools not just to fight a war, but to win it. No American soldier, sailor, airman, guardian, or marine should ever meet an enemy on equal footing. A fair fight is a policy failure. Matching an adversary’s capabilities is not victory. The advantage should always be ours. That means passing a robust National Defense Authorization Act and my HONOR Gold Star Families Act, which increases the death gratuity for the families of those who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation — and the core components of which have been included in the NDAA as an amendment. It also means rebuilding America’s defense industrial base and moving toward defense spending equal to 5% of GDP. It also means expecting our NATO allies to meet the same standard — a commitment reinforced under President Donald Trump’s leadership. Above all, it means remaining relentless in our support for the men and women who defend this country every hour of every day. So, this week, take a moment to remember what 250 years of this experiment has cost and that someone is still making sure there is a 251st. Congress owes them more than gratitude. We owe them the decisive edge they need to win. Matt Van Epps is a former Army officer and the representative for Tennessee’s 7th congressional district.

A Somali flag that Buffalo, New York, city officials raised in Niagara Square earlier this week to celebrate the foreign country’s independence was cut down in the dead of night on Wednesday. The flag robbery took place one day after city officials canceled Buffalo’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said “unknown vandals” removed the Somali flag at some point late on Wednesday night, according to Buffalo-Toronto Public Media. Ryan added that the Buffalo Police Department is investigating the incident. The Somali flag has been raised in Niagara Square for the past four years on July 1 to celebrate Somali Independence Day. “Buffalo is a proud, diverse city, and our administration remains committed to honoring and celebrating the many cultures that make our community stronger,” Ryan added. The Somali flag-raising has stirred controversy in the city, especially since it falls so close to the Fourth of July and the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. As they raised the Somali flag in the city square, Buffalo city officials were also blasted for scrapping the Fourth of July fireworks celebration. “City Hall canceled its downtown fireworks display, leaving Buffalo as one of the only cities in Western New York without a public Fourth of July celebration, and instead raised the flag of Somalia outside City Hall,” Erie County, New York, GOP Chairman Michael Kracker said. “No one is questioning the contributions of Buffalo’s immigrant communities. But this week belongs to all of us, as Americans.” Mayor Ryan announced in early June that the city planned to revive its patriotic fireworks display for America’s 250th birthday. Buffalo hasn’t put on a Fourth of July fireworks show in decades as the city focuses on a big New Year’s Eve fireworks display. This week, however, Ryan said the patriotic show wouldn’t take place. “After exploring potential locations, an appropriate site could not be identified that would provide a safe and widely accessible viewing experience for residents. As a result, the City will not be hosting a downtown fireworks display this year,” he said. Buffalo isn’t the only American city to raise the Somali flag on government property to celebrate the foreign country. Columbus, Ohio, which is home to the second-largest concentration of Somalis in the United States, also announced that it would hoist the Somali flag on July 1, The Daily Wire previously reported. The Columbus Parks and Rec Department deleted the post announcing the Somali flag raising moments after The Daily Wire asked about it.

Americans celebrating Independence Day in the nation’s capital this year will witness an unprecedented display of American military aviation as hundreds of aircraft take to the skies over Washington, D.C., during President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America 250” celebration. Organizers have billed the event as the largest aerial celebration in American history, featuring hourly military flyovers, demonstration flights, and precision aerial performances throughout the afternoon and evening before what the White House has described as the largest fireworks display ever held in the United States. According to Freedom 250, the nonprofit coordinating the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations, military flyover demonstrations will begin at 1:15 p.m. and continue every hour until sunset. The aerial demonstrations are part of a full-day celebration on the National Mall that begins with gates opening at 1 p.m. Opening programming starts at 5 p.m., followed by the official “Salute to America” program at 7 p.m. President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at approximately 9:45 p.m. before the fireworks begin around 10:30 p.m. Freedom 250 says the aviation program will showcase aircraft representing every branch of the U.S. military while highlighting both historic and modern American airpower. One of the marquee attractions is “America’s Force One,” a massive formation led by the next-generation Air Force One aircraft alongside more than a dozen military aircraft from multiple branches of the armed forces. Organizers describe it as a once-in-a-generation tribute honoring America’s 250th birthday. The celebration will also feature the Air Force’s rare Tri-Bomber Formation, bringing together three of America’s most recognizable strategic bombers, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the supersonic B-1B Lancer, and the legendary B-52 Stratofortress in a single flyover. Modern stealth aircraft will also take center stage during a dedicated “U.S. Stealth Airpower” formation showcasing the nation’s next-generation combat aircraft. Several of the military’s premier aerial demonstration teams are scheduled to perform throughout the day. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will demonstrate the precision flying and high-speed maneuvers that have made them one of America’s most recognizable flight teams, while the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will showcase the capabilities of their F-16 Fighting Falcons in their signature red, white, and blue formation. The event will also feature demonstrations by some of America’s most advanced combat aircraft, including the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, the Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II, the Navy’s carrier-based F-35C Lightning II, and the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet “Rhino” demonstration team. Attendees will also have the opportunity to watch the MV-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps’ distinctive tiltrotor aircraft capable of transitioning between helicopter and fixed-wing flight. The aviation program is being directed by Air Dot Show, one of the nation’s premier civilian airshow organizations, working in partnership with Freedom 250. The military demonstrations are only one part of what organizers describe as an all-day patriotic celebration. Following the evening program and President Trump’s remarks, spectators will witness what the White House has called the largest fireworks display in American history. The pyrotechnics are expected to last roughly 40 minutes and will be launched from multiple locations surrounding the National Mall and the Potomac River. President Trump has repeatedly promoted the celebration, calling it the biggest Fourth of July event ever held in the nation’s capital. “The Fourth of July Airshow, over Washington, D.C., our Great Capital, will be the biggest, by far, in the History of the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Hundreds of Planes, of different types, sizes, and speeds, will be on display.” He also described the evening fireworks as “approximately ten times larger than any Fireworks in the History of our Country.” Officials are encouraging attendees to arrive early due to expected crowds. Security checkpoints will open at 1 p.m., nearly ten hours before the fireworks begin, with attendance near the Washington Monument expected to be capped. The celebration serves as the centerpiece of America’s year-long semiquincentennial festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding on July 4, 1776, with similar Freedom 250 events planned across the country throughout the coming year.

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of …” Caesar Rodney? July 1776. Nearly 15 months after Paul Revere’s famous ride — forever immortalized in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — trouble was brewing as the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to discuss the question on everyone’s minds: will the 13 American colonies declare independence from England? Virginia Delegate Richard Henry Lee put forth the proposition, stating that “these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states.” A vote on the matter was set for July 2. Delaware Delegate Caesar Rodney was at home in Dover, battling cancer and asthma and attending to his duties as an officer in the Delaware State Militia while his state’s two remaining delegates — Thomas McKean and George Read — were in Philadelphia. But when it came time to vote for independence, McKean and Read were at odds: McKean favored independence, while Read did not — and it quickly became apparent that Delaware would be the deciding vote. A desperate McKean sent word to Rodney, a strong proponent for independence, who got the message on July 1 — and he acted without hesitation. Meanwhile, a preliminary vote was taken on July 1 in Philadelphia. Nine colonies voted for independence. Two colonies — Pennsylvania and South Carolina — opposed. Delaware was deadlocked, and New York abstained because the delegates in Philadelphia were waiting for word from their local governments. Rodney rode for 18 hours straight, pausing only to change horses, covering the 80 miles from Dover to Philadelphia — despite oppressive heat, dangerous storms, and his own failing health — bursting into the Pennsylvania State House (now known simply as Independence Hall) still wearing his mud-caked clothing and riding spurs. “As I believe the voice of my constituents and all sensible and honest men is in favor of independence, and as my own judgment concurs with them, I give my vote for independence,” he declared. Caesar Rodney’s vote broke the Delaware deadlock, and on July 2, 1776, the majority voted for independence. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted with the majority, making the vote 12-0 with New York still abstaining. New York continued to abstain — although the delegates did not raise any objections — when they voted for the text of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. On July 9, 1776, New York’s provincial congress voted to officially adopt the Declaration of Independence, finally making the colonies unanimous in their position. Unanimity was of the utmost importance to the Continental Congress, largely because they believed dissent would be seen by the British as a lack of resolve and would likely be exploited as the war continued. The consequences of Rodney’s ride — and the subsequent vote — were immediate: British loyalists in Delaware ensured that he was not reelected to either the state legislature or the Continental Congress. He did return to politics, however, and was elected to serve as the President of Delaware from 1778-1781. He also briefly served as Speaker of the Delaware Senate before his death in 1784. Rodney’s ride seems obvious fodder for a Hollywood film — or at the very least, an epic poem — so why is it that so many in America have never heard of him? Perhaps it’s because Rodney himself often hid from the public eye. His skin cancer, diagnosed several years prior to the war — along with surgery to remove a tumor from his nose — had left his face so severely disfigured that he often wore a green silk veil to hide it. Or maybe it’s just that Paul Revere “had a better publicist” in Longfellow, as was noted in an episode of “Outlander” (Season 3, Episode 5). Revere, despite being immortalized in the famous poem, did not actually complete the “midnight ride” for which he is known. He set off for Lexington and Concord with William Dawes, and both were captured by the British before they could reach their destination. Dr. Samuel Prescott was the patriot rider who ultimately reached Concord in time to sound the alarm. Rodney was not completely forgotten, however: the image of him on horseback appears on the Delaware quarters minted in 1999. His name came up again in 2020, when Black Lives Matter protesters targeted statues of him — among many others — because he was a slave owner. A bronze statue of Rodney was taken down from its perch in Wilmington, Delaware, amid the protests that took place that summer. In April, just ahead of the America 250 celebrations, the famed statue of Caesar Rodney was given a place in Washington, D.C.’s Freedom Plaza. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, @POTUS has been committed to celebrating and acknowledging the full breadth of our nation’s history, including the story of Caesar Rodney and his pivotal ride in July 1776. Despite being gravely ill with a cancerous condition that… pic.twitter.com/0ownpdHows — Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) April 25, 2026