Donald Trump kicked off America’s 250th birthday weekend with a sharply partisan attack on what he called the “communist menace” in the United States, labeling its supporters as “the enemy of July 4th, 1776.”
Only Donald Trump could make America’s special 250th birthday all about himself.
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The president spoke for half an hour on Friday night at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the latest stop on his tour celebrating the milestone anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence from Britain.
Greeted by chants of “USA! USA!” and briefly interrupted by a flyover of F-16 jets, Trump praised the four presidents carved into the granite mountain: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
“They were men of action, men of ambition, men of daring, men of destiny, and men of truly great intelligence,” said Trump, who has never ruled out the idea of adding his own face to Mount Rushmore. “Above all, they were the great men of history.”
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Trump hijacks the US at 250 celebrations | Politics Weekly America
The president claimed that American exceptionalism comes not just from the Constitution, but from the country’s unique culture and identity. He condemned recent efforts to “beat the American spirit out of us” and “alienate us from our history,” promising an overwhelmingly white crowd: “We are going to give our country its identity back.”
Trump then dropped any pretense of giving a traditional head-of-state speech meant to rise above division, unite political parties, and connect with citizens of all backgrounds.
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Trump has never ruled out the idea of his own face being added to Mount Rushmore. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Instead, four months before November’s midterm elections for the U.S. Congress, he returned to a theme he has been pushing hard lately: portraying progressive Democrats as communists who pose an existential threat to America. He spoke just hours after Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York and a democratic socialist, gave a pro-immigrant speech widely seen as a rebuke of Trump and his “Make America great again” movement.
Four progressive candidates, including three democratic socialists, won Democratic primaries in New York last week and in Colorado on Tuesday. Progressive candidates have also won contests in Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Trump also tied his anti-communist rhetoric to the anti-immigrant theme that fueled his election. “As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack,” he said.
“A generation after we fought and won the Cold War against the menace of communism, there is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success.”
He described communism as a greater threat to American liberty than the First and Second World Wars and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “It’s the enemy of the Constitution,” he declared. “Above all, it’s the enemy of July 4th, 1776 … Communism is the exact opposite of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s death, tyranny, and the pursuit of evil.”
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Supporters listen as Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Mount Rushmore. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Trump argued that communists do not love God or religion and have no respect for law, justice, principle, tradition, or God-given rights. “You can be loyal to Karl Marx or you can be loyal to America. You can be a communist or you can be a patriot. You cannot be both.”
The president has been widely criticized for using the semiquincentennial to rewrite history, promoting a narrative focused on white Christian men like Washington and Jefferson while ignoring that both were slaveholders. He used Friday’s speech toAttack progressive narratives.
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“Those who spread Marxist lies about our history, telling our kids we live on stolen land or that our heroes were oppressors—they’re doing more than just trashing our past,” Trump said. “They’re trashing and attacking our future—and I won’t let that happen.”
But he was speaking in the Black Hills, land the U.S. government illegally took from the Sioux Nation in 1877 after Congress forced the tribe to give up territory guaranteed by treaty.
Trump then linked the supposed communist threat to immigrants, suggesting they could be deported. Promising to “quickly defeat communism” and “send them into exile,” he told the cheering crowd: “We’ll send them away fast, and we’ll keep building our country bigger, better, and stronger than ever. America will never be a communist country.”
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Trump arrives on stage at the Mount Rushmore rally. Photograph: Kylie Cooper/Reuters
Trump urged Congress to end the filibuster and pass the Save America Act, widely criticized as a voter suppression bill. “If we do that, we won’t lose an election for 100 years,” he said. “The communist party is made up of illegal immigrants, criminals, and everyone who doesn’t want to work.”
Earlier that evening, actors playing Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln stood at podiums on a blue-carpeted stage, reciting some of their most famous quotes. Country musician Chancey Williams performed. In the crowd, a boy held a handwritten sign that read “Trump the GOAT.”
Trump, whose approval ratings are near historic lows, is set to speak on Saturday at the National Mall before a massive fireworks show, amid a scorching heatwave that has disrupted Fourth of July celebrations across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic Trump kicks off Americas 250th birthday celebrations with a partisan attack
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What was the main event
A Former President Donald Trump gave a speech to start the official countdown to Americas 250th birthday in 2026
Q Why is it called a partisan attack
A Instead of focusing on unity or history Trump used the speech to heavily criticize President Biden Democrats and his political opponents
Q Was this a governmentrun event
A No The event was organized by a private group supporting Trump not the official White House or federal committee
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q What specific criticisms did Trump make during the speech
A He claimed the Biden administration is destroying the country attacked immigration policies and accused Democrats of undermining American values
Q Did the speech mention any plans for the actual 250th birthday in 2026
A Very little The speech was mostly about current political grievances rather than planning celebrations or historical reflection
Q How did Republicans and Democrats react
A Republicans generally praised the speech as patriotic Democrats and some historians criticized it for turning a nonpartisan milestone into a campaign rally
AdvancedLevel Questions
Q What is the significance of the 250th birthday compared to other anniversaries
A The Semiquincentennial is a rare milestoneonly the second in US history after the Bicentennial in 1976 Its meant to be a unifying national moment
Q How does this compare to how past presidents handled similar anniversaries
A In 1976 President Gerald Ford emphasized national healing after Watergate and the Vietnam War Trumps approach is seen as unusually divisive for a celebration of national unity
Q What are the practical implications for the official 2026 planning
A The partisan tone may complicate bipartisan cooperation for federal events Private groups and states may end up hosting separate competing celebrations
Q Are there historical examples of political attacks during national celebrations
A Yes but rarely at the kickoff For example during the 1976 Bicentennial some protests occurred but no major political figure used the official launch as a rally against
