WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday warned that America’s national identity was facing a “renewed attack”, accusing domestic “radicals and extremists” of threatening the country’s values as the United States prepared to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence.
Speaking at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Trump delivered a strongly patriotic address praising America’s history, democratic traditions and past leaders, with the monument’s towering carvings of four former presidents serving as the backdrop.
“As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack,” Trump said.
He also claimed there was “a resurgence of the communist menace in our land”, echoing a theme he has increasingly emphasised in recent weeks following a series of primary election victories by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the growing influence of the political left represents a major threat to the country.
“In recent years, there’s been an undeniable attempt to change this exceptional character, to beat the American spirit out of us, alienate us from our history,” he said.
Although his remarks were less confrontational than some of his previous speeches on immigration, Trump reiterated that commitment to American values should define national belonging.
“You do not have to be born here, but you do have to love what we have built,” he said.
The choice of Mount Rushmore — where the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt are carved into the mountainside — underscored Trump’s effort to associate himself with some of the country’s most celebrated presidents. Supporters have even proposed legislation calling for Trump’s likeness to be added to the monument.
The 80-year-old Republican has made the United States’ 250th anniversary a central feature of his presidency. On Independence Day, he is expected to hold a campaign-style rally at Washington’s National Mall, accompanied by military flyovers and what he described as the world’s largest fireworks display.
Despite the celebrations, the anniversary comes at a time of deep political divisions across the United States.
Trump’s approval ratings remain close to historic lows, driven largely by public dissatisfaction over the war in Iran and rising living costs. Democratic critics have also continued attacking his immigration policies, his family’s growing wealth and efforts to expand presidential authority.
Plans surrounding the anniversary have also faced criticism. A Trump-linked organisation, Freedom 250, has assumed control of many official celebrations from the bipartisan America250 commission, prompting some groups to boycott the events.
Meanwhile, a “Great American State Fair” organised in Washington to commemorate the anniversary has reportedly attracted smaller-than-expected crowds and criticism over largely empty exhibition spaces.
A record-breaking heatwave has also affected attendance, although Trump insisted the weather would not discourage him.
“On July 4 it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees (41°C) out, and I’m going to go and I’m going to make a really long speech — just to show that I can do anything,” he said on Wednesday.
As the United States commemorates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, surveys suggest many Americans remain sceptical about whether the country fully reflects its founding ideals.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 61 per cent of respondents believed the United States was not living up to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, although opinions were sharply divided along party lines.
“The Fourth of July really is a moment of freedom, but I have to be honest, in these political times, it hasn’t been as exciting to me,” Amy Kimaara, a 49-year-old special education teacher in Los Angeles, told AFP.
Pakistan congratulates US on 250th anniversary
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated President Trump and the American people on the United States’ 250th Independence Day, according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat.
The statement said President Zardari described the United States as continuing to build upon “its enduring legacy of strength, innovation and commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy and opportunity,” while also acknowledging the “remarkable achievements of the American people” over the past two and a half centuries.
He noted that Pakistan and the United States shared a longstanding relationship founded on mutual respect, common interests and a shared commitment to promoting peace, security and prosperity, adding that the Pakistani-American community had further strengthened bilateral ties.
The president said relations between the two countries were on an upward trajectory, marked by renewed engagement and a shared commitment to building a stronger, future-oriented partnership. He emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation in energy security, trade and investment, defence, counter-terrorism and other areas of mutual interest.
President Zardari further stated that the Pakistan-US partnership contributed directly to regional peace and security, noting that “its inherent value was validated last year in May, when President Trump led the successful brokering of a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed states”.
He also appreciated the confidence placed by Washington in Pakistan’s role as a mediator in negotiations involving Iran, reiterating that “a sustainable solution can only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation.”
The statement added that President Zardari conveyed that the people of Pakistan would be honoured to welcome President Trump to Islamabad at his earliest convenience.
