Mehdi Hasan on Donald Trump’s big, beautiful birthday – podcast

As the US prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary and Trump turns 80, what state is the country in? And its president?

This weekend kicks off an extravaganza of celebrations for the US, marking 250 years of independence from Britain – and for Donald Trump , marking 80 years of being, well, him.

Presidents gone-by would have used a milestone anniversary to promote national unity. Trump is organising a cage fight. The president is adamant that every decent, flag-waving American will enjoy the festivities … or at least be talking about the party rather than what he’s brought to it.

Yet the Guardian US columnist and Zeteo editor-in-chief, Mehdi Hasan , says that doesn’t mean there is a lot to be cheerful about. “He’s a deeply unpopular president. He’s one of the most unpopular presidents in modern American history at this point in his presidency, if not the most unpopular president. And he is nakedly, brazenly, unashamedly trying to hijack these celebrations.”

Trump’s health is also a matter of speculation, but, Mehdi tells Nosheen Iqbal , it is the state of the nation we need to worry about. “There’s a very serious assault on the constitution, on liberal democracy, on the idea of three co-equal branches of government. And we lose track of that with the UFC and the gold and the ballroom. But this is actually a very, very dangerous moment for American democracy at 250 years.”