For 29 years, National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" has celebrated the Fourth of July with a reading of the Declaration of Independence by hosts, reporters, newscasters and commentators.
This testament to the nation’s founding document has previously proved uncontroversial. But that changed in the year 2017.
After NPR tweeted the accompanying text of the declaration line by line, Donald Trump backers (seemingly unaware of the source document) accused the media organization of playing partisan politics and attacking the president.
"So, NPR is calling for a revolution," Twitter user @JustEsrafel wrote.
"Propaganda is that all you know?" another asked.
Some even taunted NPR over Trump's budget proposal, which slashes endowments for the arts and humanities, insisting the media organization should lose federal funding for its allegedly subversive rhetoric.
@NPR When you're triggered by the Declaration of Independence bc you want so badly to submit to King Donald the Dol… https://t.co/jylZrJ7IMg— 🍦Dr. Jill’s Kugel Sommelier 🍦 (@🍦Dr. Jill’s Kugel Sommelier 🍦) 1499206302.0
there's nothing more american than getting pissed because you think the declaration of independence is shitting on… https://t.co/l3hUmFxrHX— Quarantine Goth Ms. Frizzle (@Quarantine Goth Ms. Frizzle) 1499203031.0
*heavy sigh* https://t.co/Pb35SNdKqe— Melissa Martin (@Melissa Martin) 1499197321.0
A few of the replies to @NPR’s tweeting the Declaration of Independence on this, the 4th of July. https://t.co/v56DGg57Nt— Brent Jones (@Brent Jones) 1499196278.0
The responses to @NPR tweeting the Declaration of Independence are sort of hilarious and sad all at once 👀💯💙❤️💙❤️ https://t.co/yCp6PpSuYg— Savannah Grimm (@Savannah Grimm) 1499218575.0
NPR tweeted the Declaration of Independence, & the responses are about what you'd expect. https://t.co/oTRxyX2aSr— Tina Jordan (@Tina Jordan) 1499217457.0
A bunch of Trump supporters became irate this morning when NPR started tweeting excerpts of the Declaration of Inde… https://t.co/mwmU488Do4— Robert Caruso (@Robert Caruso) 1499205488.0
The Declaration of Independence was originally written by Thomas Jefferson, and was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It laid out the 13 colonies' intention to separate from the Kingdom of Britain and form an independent union. It is not a partisan document (at least not for a current political party).
