Patriotic Maximalism Is Chic This Summer, And We're Going All In
When it comes to most things, such as clothes, houses, artwork, or makeup, the choice between minimalism and maximalism is determined by personal taste. However, when it comes to patriotism, maximalism is a responsibility.
The UFC fight on the White House lawn was perhaps one of the clearest displays of patriotism in recent memory. In anticipation of America’s 250th birthday this July, the UFC event served as an impressive show of the country’s greatness. Leading up to the event, left-wing critics called it gaudy and disgraceful. However, once the festivities kicked off, it was hard for anyone to deny that it was quite the spectacle to behold. A bald eagle took flight over a crowd filled with veterans and military personnel, motocross bikers performed stunts, the Blue Angels soared overhead, and everyone couldn’t help but show off their best imitation Trump dance when they played the Village People’s “YMCA.”
After the event, even mainstream publications who are typically adversarial to Trump struggled to criticize it. Time magazine referred to it as an “Impressive show” and the New York Times published a piece that admitted it was “totally sick,” “a ball,” and “the most historic sporting event in history.” For all of the disapproval leading up to the UFC fight, it was hard for anyone to deny that it was executed brilliantly.
Another sporting event, The World Cup, is also shining a spotlight on the glory of America. As international travelers descend across some of our nation’s greatest, most historic cities, they are seeing some of the best that America has to offer. World Cup matches are being held in places such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, and Miami. Fans visiting America for the first time for the matches are finding that these cities have rich cultures and are filled with incredible people. One poster from Canada, who was raised to be “anti-America,” claimed that his trip made him realize “what the hell, this place is awesome.” Another X user from Germany posted about his newfound affection for America so enthusiastically that dozens of American companies reached out to him to show him the best that America has to offer. When NASA gave him a complimentary tour of their facilities, he said “This is the American dream. Thanks for letting three random World Cup tourists from Germany live it up for a few days. USA rocks.” Through the lens of international travelers, Americans are being reminded how special our nation and its culture really is.
Patriotic maximalism is the wholehearted, bold embrace of America. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s time for Americans to embrace patriotism in the loudest, proudest, and most affectionate way possible. The American people have inherited an incredible country: The U.S. has had the largest global economy for over 130 years, it is the leading producer of technological and scientific discovery, and it has an incredibly high standard of living. Historically, our forefathers created a constitution to uphold life and liberty, built cities from sea to shining sea, and ended wars in the name of freedom and justice. Today, the U.S. is a cultural leader in film, fashion, and music. These things are truly good and worth celebrating.
Patriotic maximalism is the wholehearted, bold embrace of America.
For a long time, the mainstream media tried to convince people that patriotism was “cringe.” Prominent Americans ranging from professional athletes to members of the White House Press Corps claimed that they “could not say the Pledge of Allegiance,” viewing it as a piece of nationalistic propaganda. Others claimed that waving an American flag felt “aggressive,” and wearing a flag pin was derided as tacky. Olympic athlete Gwen Berry turned her head when the national anthem was played, and professional football players kneeled when it was sung ahead of their games.
A recently published piece from The New Yorker, aptly titled “How Problematic is Patriotism?” begins with the insulting line “I did not grow up loving America” and concludes by saying “Forget the word ‘patriotism’.” The argument that America is too flawed to warrant celebration is both insulting and out of touch.
Despite what the mainstream media might be trying to sell you, Americans really, truly care about patriotism. About 8 in 10 U.S. adults consider themselves to be either very or somewhat patriotic, and a majority of Americans believe that patriotism has a positive impact on the country. In a Gallup Poll from 2025, 58% of U.S. adults claimed that they are ‘extremely’ proud to be an American. Although that number has declined from its height in 2001, it still shows that a majority of Americans recognize the value of their nation. Despite efforts to make patriotic acts, such as hanging an American flag up outside of your house, feel weird, the American people are still overwhelmingly eager to show their patriotism.
The UFC fight serves as a great example of what patriotic maximalism should look like. The fight was loud, lavish, and loving.
Our patriotism, too, should be loud. We can’t be afraid to speak out about our love for our country, even when other people are quick to criticize America. Our country has made mistakes, but it has also ushered in an era characterized by freedom, peace, and growth. We can’t be afraid to post online about how much we love our nation or showing off our star-spangled decorations. We can’t be afraid to wear a cool piece of America 250 merch out in public. We can’t refuse to hang an American flag on our front porch for the fear of being labeled ‘lame.’ We should be willing to wear our patriotism loud and proud, for everyone to see.
Our patriotism should also be lavish. This doesn’t mean we have to do things that are expensive or gaudy. Not everyone can make trips to D.C. for Trump’s once-in-a-lifetime events. Instead, being lavishly patriotic means being deeply invested in the adoration of America. Don’t just decorate the outside of your house, but also decorate the inside with little touches of red, white, and blue. Take your family and friends to every Independence Day parade you can find. Grill some hot dogs, cook some s’mores over a campfire, and listen to any one of the upbeat ‘America 250’ playlists on Spotify. These things aren’t performative, they’re a way for you to joyfully bestow your time and attention on America.
Our country can only continue to survive if we give it the honor it deserves.
Finally, your patriotism should be loving. We are Americans, and this is the land that we love. None of us would be here today, driving cars or eating In-N-Out burger, without the sacrifices of those who came before us. Our country can only continue to survive if we give it the honor it deserves. In the midst of our celebrations, it's crucial that we respect the men and women who bravely fought for the soul of our nation. Read books and watch documentaries explaining how our nation was created and defended over the past 250 years. Thank the veterans you meet for their service. Consider donating to active military organizations. When you wake up in the morning, treasure the gift of freedom you've been awarded as an American citizen.
America’s 250th is special, but it will only feel special if you make the effort. Trump took a risk with his White House UFC event, but it paid off. People from around the world are coming to America and realizing that it’s an incredible country. Patriotic maximalism is chic for the summer. Embrace it, enjoy it, and don’t ever apologize for it. And remember: Anyone who doesn’t sing along to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” probably just doesn’t know how to have fun.