US President Donald Trump during his Independence Day speech at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota (July 3, 2026) (Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP)
Pres. Donald Trump of the US praised America during the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations on Saturday as an exceptional achievement in history, but also warned against what he described as a communist threat within the country.
Trump’s speech in Washington was delayed by several hours after storms led to the temporary evacuation of crowds on the National Mall. Nevertheless, he said the United States is “more proud than ever” under his presidency.
Although the event was previously described as a large rally in the national celebrations, the 80-year-old Republican largely stuck to a traditionally patriotic message.
“For two and a half centuries, our American republic has stood as the crowning achievement of human history,” Trump told tens of thousands of people.
On stage, he also honored veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
He then referred to the Korean and Vietnam wars as part of the fight against “communism” – a theme he also touched on in his speech at the iconic Mount Rushmore monument on Friday night.
“Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields all over the world, just so that this threat could rear its ugly head again here in America. We are not going to allow that,” he said.
Trump has emphasized this message repeatedly in the run-up to the US mid-term elections in November.
Trump also referred to recent US military actions against Iran and Venezuela, saying Washington had “wiped out” Tehran’s military.
However, the speech was short by Trump’s standards and lasted about 45 minutes.
“We love Trump; we loved his speech,” said Richard Sullivan, 70, who came from Virginia with his wife, Nancy, and wore a Freedom 250 T-shirt.
“He worked through our great history and also had a word for the veterans who were here. He makes us proud to be American.”
A giant fireworks display began after the speech. Trump said it would set a record as the largest in the world.
The largest firework show in U.S. history for America’s 250th birthday!!! ???????? pic.twitter.com/Id0oyS8uLN
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 5, 2026
Americans braved a scorching heat wave in cities across the east of the country to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776.
Temperatures in the capital rose to a record high of 39.4°C, an all-time record for July 4, while 160 million Americans were under extreme weather warnings, according to the National Weather Service.
Bad weather, meanwhile, forced fireworks displays in New York to be held earlier, and caused evacuations at a concert in Philadelphia and a celebration on the Charles River in Boston.
The weather also threatened Trump’s speech when tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave the National Mall several hours before his speech due to approaching thunderstorms.
As many people flocked to the exits, chaos ensued as other spectators refused to leave or tried to return again.
However, Trump insisted he would go ahead with the speech, telling Fox News that if World War II D-Day veterans could brave bad weather, so could he.
“To experience a little heat is far less than what many people have sacrificed to give us this freedom in this fantastic country,” said Randy Cole, 62, a retired civil servant who attended the celebrations in Washington.
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TAKES THE STAGE AT SALUTE TO AMERICA TO CELEBRATE 250 YEARS OF FREEDOM! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/fCg4yrqZxs
— Freedom 250 (@Freedom250) July 5, 2026
However, the celebrations also took place against the backdrop of sharp political divisions in the US during Trump’s second term.
Elsewhere in Washington, these tensions were also visible near Capitol Hill, where masked men – some of whom carried Confederate flags and others displayed logos of the white supremacist Patriot Front – gathered and chanted “Reclaim America!” shouted.
For Americans, the 250th anniversary provides an opportunity for reflection as well as celebration.
A Quinnipiac University poll showed 61% of Americans believe the US is not living up to the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence.