Trump on July 4 With a Defiant Tone: America Will Never Become a Communist State

In a speech delivered at Mount Rushmore, U.S. President Donald Trump called on American citizens to defend the freedoms established by the Founding Fathers 250 years ago against what he described as the “communist threat” posed by progressive Democrats.

During his patriotic address, Trump highlighted what he called the American “miracle” and praised the four presidents carved into Mount Rushmore: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

“We stand beneath the monument of these heroes, a group of truly incredible people, and we recommit ourselves to being a nation just as great, brave, noble, and grand as these American giants. And that is not easy to do, but we will do it,” he declared.

The president then warned that, in his view, “our American identity is facing a new assault.”

Trump said a “communist threat” is returning on American soil, including, according to him, “newcomers” who embrace ideas that are completely at odds with the American way of life and the country’s success. “We will not allow that to happen,” he stressed.

By mentioning “newcomers,” the White House chief was weaving his anti-communist rhetoric together with his anti-immigration positions, one of the main pillars of his campaign and electoral policy. In one part of the speech, he emphasized that newcomers to the United States should be persecuted.

“We are determined and committed that the citizens of the United States will quickly defeat communism (…) We will expel them quickly and continue building our country greater and better, stronger than ever. America will never become a communist country!” he said.

This kind of language has been used frequently by Trump lately as the November midterm elections approach. Republicans fear that the president’s low level of support could cost them control of Congress.

“We can lose the midterm elections only if we allow ourselves to lose them,” the American president said.

Last week in New York City and on Tuesday in Colorado, four progressive candidates, including three members of the Democrats’ left wing, emerged victorious in the party primaries. Victories by progressive candidates have also been recorded in Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

From Mount Rushmore, Trump also made sure to mention what he called “radicals and extremists,” who he said “attack our extraordinary history at every opportunity.”

“In recent years, there has been an effort to lose our American soul, to distance us from our history,” he declared.

“I can do anything”

Tonight, Trump is scheduled to deliver a major speech at the National Mall in downtown Washington as part of the “Salute America 250 Celebration & Fireworks” event. According to his announcement, the event will conclude with “the largest fireworks display in history,” featuring 850,000 fireworks.

At the same time, Washington and the East Coast of the United States are facing an intense heat wave. Temperatures in the federal capital are expected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).

On Wednesday, the American president said: “By the way, on July 4 it will be around 107 degrees (Fahrenheit, around 41 degrees Celsius) and I will go and give a really long speech just to show that I can do anything.”

At a moment when the U.S. is expected to display national unity, the country remains deeply divided under Trump’s leadership.

Support for the Republican is nearing its lowest levels because of the war in Iran and the rising cost of living. Strong criticism has also come from Democrats over his sweeping campaign against immigrants, the enrichment of his family, and efforts to expand presidential powers.

In a podcast with Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President J.D. Vance, broadcast on Friday, Trump said:

“We have a great country, but right now it is a little bit on the edge of the cliff. It could go one way or the other (…) but we will make it go the other way. And we will make America greater than ever.”

Meanwhile, the Republican’s effort to leave his mark on the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence is evident. An organization linked to Trump, Freedom 250, has organized several major events to the detriment of the bipartisan “America 250” committee, leading some people to boycott them.

The MMA fight night held at the White House on Trump’s birthday in mid-June had also previously sparked strong reactions.

“July 4 is a real moment of freedom, but to be honest, in this political climate, it does not excite me as much as it has in recent years,” Amy Kimara, a 49-year-old teacher from Los Angeles, told AFP.

As the United States marks two and a half centuries of history, a Quinnipiac University poll published on Thursday showed that 61% of Americans believe the country is currently not living up to the ideals set out in the 1776 Declaration of Independence.