As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, a new opinion analysis from Fox News argues that major media networks are engaging in a pattern of anti-American bias, celebrating the nation with fireworks and specials while routinely criticizing its values and history throughout the rest of the year. The piece, written by Fox News contributor Tim Graham, contends that networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS are pandering to patriotic sentiment during the holiday weekend but otherwise promote a negative view of the country.
Graham points to recent headlines and commentary from NBC News as evidence. One article, published as the nation turned 250, quoted Americans who described the American flag as a “red flag” and referred to it as a “MAGA hat on a stick.” The piece featured a Massachusetts resident who said he would fly the flag but also display signs to make clear he is not a supporter of former President Donald Trump. Another NBC report highlighted readers who planned to fly the flag upside down as a protest, signaling that the country is in distress.
The analysis also cites comments from ABC’s “The View.” In 2024, co-host Sunny Hostin stated that the United States is “a country based on racism and slavery and founded in it,” adding that it is “a sick country” and “a racist country.” In a separate exchange in 2025, co-host Whoopi Goldberg compared the treatment of Black Americans in the U.S. to the execution of homosexuals in Iran, saying, “Not if you’re Black!” when challenged by co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who argued that life in the U.S. is fundamentally different from life under the Iranian regime.
Graham also recalls a 2007 episode of “The View” under the George W. Bush administration, when co-host Rosie O’Donnell questioned who the “terrorists” were after citing civilian deaths in Iraq. O’Donnell later moved to Ireland, a fact Graham notes as emblematic of a broader rejection of American patriotism among some media figures.
The opinion piece further criticizes NBC’s coverage of former President Barack Obama, describing a recent headline that called his presidential center a “beacon of hope.” Graham argues that the media holds Obama to a different standard, celebrating his vision while dismissing traditional American patriotism. He notes that Obama once mocked “American exceptionalism” and promised to “fundamentally transform” the country.
Graham contrasts this with the treatment of Republican figures such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who faced media criticism for suggesting that schools teach that the U.S. has overcome slavery and Jim Crow. The media, Graham argues, labeled DeSantis as a racist attempting to “erase history,” while simultaneously accusing modern Republicans of being “Jim Crow 2.0,” despite the historical association of the Democratic Party with segregationist policies.
The analysis comes amid broader polling data showing a decline in patriotism among Democrats. A Fox News poll released ahead of the 250th anniversary found that “resilient discontent” defines the national mood, with many Americans expressing dissatisfaction with the direction of the country. Graham argues that the media’s coverage reflects and amplifies this discontent, particularly among left-leaning audiences.
Graham concludes that most Americans will celebrate the nation’s milestone without the need for media validation, and that the networks’ patriotic programming is a temporary departure from their usual narrative. He calls on viewers to recognize what he describes as a consistent pattern of bias that undermines national pride and historical progress.
The piece has drawn attention on social media, with supporters of the analysis sharing examples of what they see as media hostility toward American values. Critics, however, argue that the examples cited are taken out of context or represent legitimate criticism of the country’s flaws, which they say is consistent with journalistic principles.
As the Fourth of July weekend unfolds, the debate over patriotism and media bias is likely to continue, with both sides pointing to the same holiday as evidence for their views. The 250th anniversary provides a moment for reflection on the nation’s history and its ongoing divisions, with the media playing a central role in shaping public perception.