KEYSTONE, South Dakota — U.S. President Donald Trump launched nationwide commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence with a speech at Mount Rushmore on Friday, celebrating the country's history while urging Americans to defend what he described as the nation's founding principles against a resurgence of communism.
Speaking before the granite monument honoring Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, Trump said the United States should recommit itself to the ideals of its founders as celebrations begin for the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.
"We stand beneath the monument of these heroes," Trump said, calling for the country to remain "big, bold, noble" in the tradition of past American leaders. He also warned of what he characterized as a renewed "communist menace" in the United States, directing criticism at progressive Democrats and arguing that such ideas were incompatible with the country's constitutional principles.
The address opened a series of events planned for the Independence Day anniversary, with Trump also scheduled to appear later on Saturday at celebrations on the National Mall in Washington. Organizers said the capital's program would include military flyovers, fireworks and other public events as part of the yearlong America 250 observances.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said before the speech that the president's remarks would focus on the meaning of American citizenship while also delivering what she described as a forceful rejection of communism.
Trump's speech reflected themes he has emphasized in recent weeks, linking his political agenda to the country's founding ideals and portraying left-wing political movements as a threat to American freedoms. Critics have argued that the anniversary celebrations have become increasingly partisan, while supporters have said the events appropriately emphasize patriotism and national history.
The Mount Rushmore ceremony featured fireworks over the Black Hills, marking the beginning of broader commemorations across the country for the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The celebrations come as the administration continues to promote America 250 events through the remainder of the anniversary year.
