[America's 250th Anniversary] Trump’s ‘Mount Rushmore’ Speech Lashes Out at Radicals: ‘Communism Is Making a Comeback’

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, President Trump delivered a speech full of patriotic sentiment at the famous Mount Rushmore on the 3rd. He strongly praised American exceptionalism, but at the same time fired at the domestic “radicals and extremists,” sharply criticizing that American identity is facing unprecedented new threats.

According to AFP, during his speech at Mount Rushmore, commonly known as “Presidents’ Mountain” in South Dakota, Trump said: “As we approach this great anniversary, we see that America’s national identity is once again under attack.”

He said: “After our generation fought against the threat of communism and won the Cold War, now that threat of communism is making a comeback within our own country.”

This is a theme Trump has repeatedly emphasized recently. As Democratic anti-establishment left-wing figures made great gains in the primaries, ahead of the November midterm elections, Trump has frequently painted the rise of the left as “communists” running rampant and posing a major “threat” to the nation.

Trump said: “In recent years, there has been an undeniable force attempting to change these extraordinary characteristics, to erase our American spirit, and alienate us from our own history.”

The venue choice for the speech is highly politically symbolic

The location for the speech is highly politically symbolic. Trump’s allies even once proposed adding Trump’s own likeness to Mount Rushmore alongside greats like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. The 80-year-old Republican leader is clearly attempting to turn the historic occasion of America’s 250th anniversary into a demonstration of his personal political charisma.

However, at a time that should be unifying, American society appears deeply divided. Affected by the war in Iran and soaring living costs, Trump’s approval ratings are at a historic low. In addition, Independence Day celebrations led by Trump’s allies have also sparked considerable controversy, with some events lackluster due to excessive heat and heavy political overtones. According to the latest polls, as many as 61% of Americans believe the nation has not lived up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, reflecting a pessimistic public attitude toward the “American Dream.”

On Independence Day (July 4), Trump will hold a campaign-style political rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with military aircraft flyovers and what is said to be the world’s largest fireworks show.