We have beer, we have friends, it doesn’t get any better than this, says a young man to me. The Americans in Melbourne, Florida, are full of pride, joy and patriotism in connection with the country’s 250th anniversary.
Yesterday we drove down to downtown Melbourne in Florida to start the 4 July celebrations early. I spoke with many happy Americans who were very excited to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.
The atmosphere was exactly as one would expect on such a festive day, full of pride, joy and patriotism.
Aftenposten breaks all records
But even on the USA’s 250th anniversary, a very special day for the people, Norwegian media could not refrain.
And Aftenposten took anti-America criticism to new heights on 4 July 2026. Here is a selection of articles from today’s edition. Even an article about Taylor Swift had to include Trump criticism.
The choice of picture for the leading article says it all. The NTB picture shows people watching the “Freedom 20 train”, which transported President Donald Trump to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library this week.
It seems as if the editors of Aftenposten want to emphasise that even the children are unhappy and grumpy on their way into the celebration of their country.
Kristoffer Rønneberg’s news analysis does not match either what I saw last night and the people I spoke with. “Proud to be American? Well, say an increasing number of Americans”, is the headline. Rønneberg’s analysis concludes that national feeling in the USA has suffered a serious blow before the 250th anniversary celebrations.
I did not see a single trace of that last night when I spoke with Americans and immigrants from all walks of life – black, white, women, men and people from India and other countries. Not one person said anything negative about their country. It was pure love and pride. Many were also very positive towards Norway.
That is why it hits extra hard to read such slander about America from my own home country. I never hear a bad word about Norway when I speak with Americans. It is pure admiration and respect.
Here are some of the people I talked with last night.
We have beer and friends, it doesn’t get any better
The first I met were a group of young people at Van Beers Bottle & Tap, who were following the match between Argentina and Cape Verde, with money at stake. They were completely fired up to celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary.
– We have beer, we have friends, it doesn’t get any better than this, said the young man on the left.
His plan for 4 July was to continue enjoying the pineapple mango beer. When I said I was from Norway, he started rowing while shouting: Go Haaland! Go Norway!
The happy group’s message to Norway in connection with the World Cup was Go Norway!
Happy Birthday America
The patriots Layla and Caleb were watching the match between Argentina and Cape Verde in the bar at Landing Roof Top. Caleb was really disappointed that what he called the “underdog” Cape Verde lost.
It was the only match he had bet money on, because the odds were so high on Cape Verde victory that he would have won a lot of money.
They are both very much looking forward to the USA’s 250th anniversary. They would have liked the USA to win the World Cup on the occasion of the 250th anniversary.
Happy Birthday, America! they both say.
Layla and Caleb are 23 years old and have been together since high school. A very nice couple who have their whole lives ahead of them in a country they love.
Margo and her friend are happy to celebrate the anniversary and are enjoying the nice weather and the tropical atmosphere.
They were sitting outside on the terrace at The Landing Roof Top, which is on the eleventh floor. It is the best place to watch the fireworks from today.
Patriotic Florida Women
These five lovely ladies from Florida were delighted to celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary and declared themselves very patriotic.
They are all 23 years old, born and raised in Melbourne, and proud of their state and country.
This lady said that one of the advantages of 4 July was that it fell on a Saturday this year. She had calculated that the next time it happens will be in 2037. Then you avoid going to work, she said. Just like we think in Norway.
Conflict of interest
Jackie and Sidney (Sid) came down from Orlando to be with friends, go to the beach and celebrate 4 July. They think it is fantastic to celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary.
And football is going really well right now, says Sid. I said to them that I would like to see the USA and Norway in the final. It would be a conflict of interest, according to him.
We’re not bad people
Bob and Walter love Norway, and Bob starts rowing as soon as I meet them. He had been allowed by his wife to be out the whole evening.
Norwegians are the best looking people, he said. His wife is from Venezuela, and both she and her sisters are in love with Norwegian men. They are looking forward to the World Cup and to seeing all the foreigners who love America.
– We are not bad people, says Walter. They have picked up that European news portrays them as selfish, and they disagree.
– You can come here and be whoever you want, says Bob. – Everyone is welcome here. My wife comes from Venezuela.
Bob and Walter are old friends. They went to college together and were in the military together. Bob says he went to “drinking school”, but then he got a job in the public sector, Department of Veteran Affairs.
They are cheering for the USA in the World Cup, but are not really soccer people. Bob’s wife is cheering for Norway.
Their message to Norway is: – Good luck, we are cheering for you, welcome to America, and God bless you.
America loves you
Miles and Archie love the USA and the opportunities the country gives them. Tomorrow we celebrate the 250th anniversary, and we are going to drink ourselves * drunk, says Miles.
Miles is half Puerto Rican but comes from Melbourne. He runs his own business and says that the opportunities we get in the USA and the freedom are fantastic.
Land of opportunity, he says. – I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Archie is from India. He also says that America is the land of opportunity, and feels blessed to have been able to start his own business.
– We love America, they say at the end, and I replied: – America loves you!