In a 30-minute address in front of the Mount Rushmore sculptures, Donald Trump denounced what he called a “communist threat” and an “attack on our identity by domestic radicalism,” while praising American exceptionalism and power. Speaking beneath the granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt in South Dakota, Trump reiterated his desire for lasting honors—beyond a federal building named for him, naval ships, an airport in Palm Beach and a new government savings account. He has even sought the symbolic distinction of having his face added to Mount Rushmore; past White House inquiries into that possibility were halted after geotechnical studies determined the rock could not safely be altered.
Trump visited the monument on the eve of the United States’ 250th anniversary and delivered a speech emphasizing national strength, calling the United States “the most powerful country on Earth.” He described the gathering as a celebration of 250 years of independence and American liberty and said it was an honor to serve as president.
Echoing themes previewed by the White House, Trump outlined what he said it means to be American: meeting challenges head-on—”Show us a mountain and we will climb it; show us an ocean and we will cross it”—and restoring the country’s identity. He emphasized that Americans love freedom.
He added that one need not be born in the United States to be American, but must value what the country has built. Repeating a line he has used recently, Trump labeled certain Democratic candidates as “communists,” calling communism a lethal threat to American liberty and likening it to the violence of September 11. He described communism as the enemy of the Constitution and of the principles of July 4, 1776, saying it is “the exact opposite of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and vowed that the United States would defeat it and never become a communist country.
Trump warned of a renewed communist threat within the country, including from newcomers who allegedly embrace values contrary to American life and success. He asserted that “the best is yet to come” and cited a range of national achievements—such as Olympic results—as evidence of American superiority. He said the world has long looked to the United States for inspiration drawn from its progress, strength and acts of faith and hope.
Turning to domestic politics, Trump warned that his party could only lose the upcoming midterm elections if it allowed that to happen, calling on Republicans to end the filibuster and to pass the Save America Act, which he said would prevent electoral losses for a century. He framed the nation’s quarter-millennium as the start of an “American golden age.” He also briefly referred to tensions with Iran, saying the United States had weakened Tehran and asserting that Iran seeks a deal; he added a remark about allowing a brief pause for funerals. (By Iacopo Luzi)
Read also