KEYSTONE, South Dakota — President Donald Trump delivered a keynote Independence Day address at Mount Rushmore on Friday as the United States began major celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, with the appearance serving as the opening event in a weekend of nationally televised commemorations.
Trump spoke beneath the granite monument depicting Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt before a crowd gathered at the national memorial. The event also featured military tributes and a fireworks display, according to organizers and the White House.
The Mount Rushmore appearance preceded a larger Independence Day celebration scheduled for Saturday in Washington, where Trump is expected to address a crowd on the National Mall before a major fireworks display as part of the administration's America 250 commemorations.
The White House said the president's remarks at Mount Rushmore were intended to honor the nation's founding and launch the semiquincentennial celebrations. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joined Trump for the South Dakota event.
The president returned to Mount Rushmore six years after holding a Fourth of July celebration there during his first term. Fireworks at the monument resumed for this year's event despite concerns raised by some officials and environmental groups over drought conditions and wildfire risks in the Black Hills region. Organizers proceeded with the display as planned.
Trump's visit also renewed attention to his longstanding association with the monument. During previous years he publicly joked about the prospect of his likeness being added to the memorial, while some supporters have introduced legislation expressing support for the idea. Officials responsible for the monument have said no plans exist to alter the sculpture.
The Mount Rushmore event took place as communities across the United States prepared commemorations for the country's 250th Independence Day anniversary. Many celebrations were accompanied by heat advisories across parts of the country, prompting organizers in several locations to adjust schedules or expand cooling measures for attendees.
Following the South Dakota appearance, Trump was scheduled to travel to Washington to participate in the administration's main Independence Day observances, where officials planned additional ceremonies, military flyovers and a nationally televised fireworks display.
