GREENVILLE – As communities across the country prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Congressman Warren Davidson said the milestone offers Americans an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history, celebrate its achievements, and look toward the future with renewed patriotism.
During a visit to Greenville’s new America 250 mural, Davidson, who has represented Ohio’s 8th Congressional District since 2016, praised local efforts to commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial and spoke about President Donald Trump’s role in the upcoming national celebration.
“When I’m looking at America 250 and the celebrations that have been going on in Washington D.C., I just think let’s contrast what is going on right now with what could be going on,” Davidson said. “You look at the difference between common sense and crazy – common sense, we love America. We have a treasure to preserve, truly the world’s greatest country, wealthier, more powerful, more benevolent than any other country in history. We’ve made a difference all around the world, and why wouldn’t we celebrate that?”
Davidson said America’s anniversary is about recognizing both the nation’s accomplishments and its continuing pursuit of improvement.
“That is not saying we’re perfect, but we’re celebrating a more perfect union in the things that we have done as a country,” Davidson said. “Look at things like what you are doing here in local communities where you take pride in the community, you take pride in the country.”
The congressman said he believes those same values should be reflected in the nation’s capital.
“The goal is to see that in Washington D.C.,” Davidson said. “Sometimes the disconnect you see in Washington, D.C. is people pushing a very different culture than the one we’re trying to protect and preserve. What we are trying to do this time with President Trump’s leadership is protect and preserve our nation’s heritage, and he’s done that from the 1776 Project.”
Davidson also pointed to improvements being made in Washington ahead of next year’s historic celebration, including restoration work around the National Mall.
“They made a lot of nonsense about the Reflecting Pool between the Washington Monument, actually the WWII Monument and the Lincoln Memorial,” Davidson said. “It’s supposed to be a reflecting pool, and it wasn’t maintained. They had a $300 million quote to fix it. President Trump spent under $15 million, and it looks way better, so there is still a longer-term project that will cost more, but it’s in time to look good for America 250. That is the goal, to present a country that reflects our nation.”
Having served alongside President Trump on numerous occasions, Davidson said his perspective comes from personal interaction, including traveling aboard Air Force One and spending time with the president.
Davidson said those experiences have given him an opportunity to see a side of the president that many Americans do not.
“I wish everyone could spend a little bit of time with our President,” Davidson said. “Obviously, some people are going to just disagree with him, including a lot of people who love him. Sometimes you go, well, I don’t agree with that, or did you have to say that, so you hear that locally, even from some of his biggest fans, but some of his biggest critics would be blown away that when you spend time with him, you would genuinely like him.”
Davidson cited comedian Bill Maher’s widely discussed dinner with President Trump, arranged with encouragement from musician Kid Rock, as an example of how personal interaction can differ from public perception.
“That is one of the things rock star Kid Rock approved because he got Bill Maher to agree to sit down and have dinner with Donald Trump,” Davidson said. “Bill Maher was reluctant, but, OK, fine, and then Bill Maher has done a lot of commentary about that since, by saying, obviously, people in the audience know that he doesn’t like Donald Trump’s policies, but he said if you spend time with Donald Trump, you like him.”
The congressman said he believes Americans should seek a fuller understanding of political leaders beyond headlines and narratives.
“There’s been a lot of dishonest things so it’s like, well if I believed all the things that a lot of people believe because they have only listened to one version of facts, a lot of it has been dishonest so you say, well, if I believed that I guess I would feel that I don’t like him as well, but when you get the whole story and the truth, you say, OK, let’s understand what’s really going on here.”
Davidson also expressed concern about today’s political climate and media environment.
“You have to recognize a lot of what goes on in the media culture today is to dehumanize other people,” Davidson said. “Instead of arguing about facts, it’s easier to argue about a narrative in a more dehumanizing way.”
Reflecting on his personal experiences with the president, Davidson concluded by describing Trump as approachable and personable.
“President Trump is a regular human guy,” Davidson said. “He has a brilliant record of success and some other things that it’s like, well, OK, he’s a human guy – incredibly likable when you spend time with him.”
Standing before Greenville’s America 250 mural, Davidson said local celebrations such as those taking place across Darke County embody the spirit of the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday by encouraging communities to celebrate American history, civic pride, and the freedoms secured nearly two and a half centuries ago.
