TV series
On July 4th, 2026, the United States will celebrate Independence Day, just as it does every year. But 250 years on from the country’s Declaration of Independence, the image of the United States has become tarnished. Yet today, the United States seems increasingly alien and ever more threatening to many Europeans. Is Donald Trump’s current policy the product of a national identity shaped by history? To understand the American mindset, one must look back to the roots and myths that have shaped it — a history marked by rifts and conflicts that continue to resonate today. By drawing parallels between cowboys and populism, Thanksgiving and Charlie Kirk, this 2-part documentary demonstrates that Trump’s politics differ from those of his predecessors and are not in line with the values upon which the history of the American nation was founded.
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On July 4th, 2026, the United States will celebrate Independence Day, just as it does every year. But 250 years on from the country’s Declaration of Independence, the image of the United States has become tarnished. Yet today, the United States seems increasingly alien and ever more threatening to many Europeans. Is Donald Trump’s current policy the product of a national identity shaped by history? To understand the American mindset, one must look back to the roots and myths that have shaped it — a history marked by rifts and conflicts that continue to resonate today. By drawing parallels between cowboys and populism, Thanksgiving and Charlie Kirk, this 2-part documentary demonstrates that Trump’s politics differ from those of his predecessors and are not in line with the values upon which the history of the American nation was founded.
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Episode 1
To mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, this documentary examines the values upon which the American nation is founded – a nation now in the midst of Trump’s second presidential term – and is structured around four main themes: the ideal of freedom, the prominence of religion, the American dream and love of country.
Where to watch America Who Are You? A History of the American Mindset
Episode 2
Linked to the principle of freedom and the concept of divine blessing, the figure of the self-made man contributes to the development of American-style capitalism: the state must guarantee fundamental rights, but must not interfere in the economy.
Where to watch America Who Are You? A History of the American MindsetEpisode information updated Sep 3, 2026
Tom VogtSelf - Narrator
Heike PaulSelf - Interviewee
Elisabeth AnkerSelf - Interviewee
Volker DepkatSelf - Interviewee
Nikole Hannah-JonesSelf - Interviewee
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