The final paragraph of our declaration of independence:
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, .... Free and Independent States; .... “
Which is the only word, not an article or conjunction, which is not capitalized?
Before the federals were the States and their people.
Compare the great State of Arizona with the pathetic state of our republic.
Can/should the GOP run ads about this in the fall? Could be a powerful message. “Democrats applaud a foreign president as he criticizes the people of the USA!” I suspect though they will be too afraid of being labeled as bigoted or anti Latino.
And you're not even a flycatcher...