President Donald Trump kicked off America’s 250th Independence Day with a late-night speech from Mount Rushmore in which he called out a new/old enemy within the United States — communism.
Trump spoke from the South Dakota landmark on Friday night, not long before the clock hit midnight on the East Coast to start July 4 celebrations. The president noted the success of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln as he spoke on a stage with the monument in the background.
“These men could have only been made in the USA,” Trump said.
The president’s address occurred as Independence Day activities continued across the nation. That included in Washington, D.C., where his Great American State Fair has turned into a dud.
High temperatures led to the closure of the fair on Friday afternoon. The event has been panned by critics who have noted the shoddy construction, falling sets and lackluster offerings.
Saturday will continue the July 4 celebrations at the National Mall, where Trump has promised a large fireworks show. He is also set to give an address around 9:45 p.m. The fireworks show is expected to begin after he finishes.
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Key Points
- Trump slams communism from Mount Rushmore
- Trump talked about military success during his speech
- Seven people needed 'advanced' care at Trump's State Fair on Friday
- New $400m Air Force One has a new addition for July 4
- Bernie Sanders warns US is on the brink of a 'political revolution' ahead of July Fourth
Trump paints his political foes as 'godless Communists' in Mount Rushmore speech
13:48 , Neil SloaneIn his speech at Mount Rushmore, President Donald Trump targeted recent far-left Democratic primary election winners using rhetoric not heard since the Cold War.
Calling communism “the enemy of July 4, 1776,” he went on to declare: “Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11."
“You can be loyal to Karl Marx or you can be loyal to America. You can be a communist or you can be a patriot. You cannot be both,” Trump said.
“It’s death, tyranny, and the pursuit of evil. The godless communist morality states that anything is justified to bring about inhuman visions and to really propose what’s good. They don’t want good, they don’t love God and they don’t want God, they don’t love religion and they don’t want religion and they won’t have it. But we will not let them win.”
He did not name any Democrats specifically but the comments come after a week of railing about a resurgence of Communism after NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s slate of three insurgent socialist-backed challengers pulled off upsets.
See the scene from Donald Trump's speech at Mount Rushmore
13:47 , Alex Lang
Trump brags about second amendment rights
12:52 , Alex LangPresident Donald Trump spent most of his Friday night speech from Mount Rushmore discussing the strength of America and its past. He also addressed the nation’s Constitution, saying it is only as strong as the people upholding it.
“The United States of America will always be the land of free men and women, and we will never ever fail,” Trump said.
Americans love freedom and cherish independence, Trump said. He said that citizens do not need permission to say what they want, worship how they choose and to keep guns. The president then claimed his administration has saved Second Amendment rights.
“Americans believe in self-reliance,” Trump said. “We look at success not with envy…with admiration and we will always earn it.”
ICMYI: Shocking July 4 poll finds nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on America’s 250th
12:19 , Alex LangNearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on the Fourth of July, according to a shocking poll and reported by Rhian Lubin.
July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but 46 percent of Americans and 61 percent of Gen Zers couldn’t tell you that, the Cato Institute's national survey found.
Nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on July 4, poll finds
Family behind today's 'record-setting' fireworks speaks out
11:11 , Alex LangThe family behind the planned July 4 fireworks in Washington, D.C., has spoken out about the effort to put on the show.
"I mean, it is the biggest show that we've done," Rocco Vitale, president of Pyrotecnico, told CBS. "My earliest memories of fireworks displays and doing the Fourth of July was here."
The family started planning the show in January. President Donald Trump has said it will be "record-setting" with the number of fireworks that explode. The 40-minute spectacle with 850,000 individual fireworks is expected to begin around 10:45 p.m.
Trump talked about military success during his speech
10:09 , Alex LangAs President Donald Trump spoke from Mount Rushmore on Friday night, he highlighted the U.S. and its military strength. Trump noted that the U.S. had won two World Wars and the Cold War.
Then he turned his attention to the conflicts since he returned to the White House.
“We beat Venezuela in one day,’ he said. Then Trump addressed his recent attacks on Iran and the ongoing peace talks. “And we knocked the hell out of Iran, they are dying to settle. They want to settle so badly.”
Seven people needed 'advanced' care at Trump's State Fair on Friday
09:02 , Alex LangAt least seven people who attended the Great American State Fair on Friday needed 'advanced life support,' CNN reported.
On Friday, temperatures at the state fair hit triple digits. The lightly attended event was even forced to close for a few hours because of the heat.
CNN's Brian Todd noted that the seven people most likely needed aid because of heat-related issues, as reported by Mediaite. Overall, 11 people had to be taken to the hospital, and 44 sought medical care while attending the fair on Friday.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins trolls Trump by reporting on the state fair in the middle of an empty National Mall
08:00 , Sophie ClarkCNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins trolled President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair by showing just how few people showed up to the weeks-long event.
Collins was filmed standing on the National Mall Thursday among a sparse crowd.
“For a president who often fixates on crowd size, so far the fair on Washington’s National Mall hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype,” the CNN host said.
Read on...
CNN trolls Trump by reporting on the state fair at empty National Mall
New $400m Air Force One has a new addition for July 4
07:15 , Rachel DobkinThe new Air Force One, a $400 million plane gifted to the U.S. by Qatar, has a new addition for the Fourth of July – an American flag.
“Flag on the top of Air Force One in honor of America’s 250th Birthday!!!” President Donald Trump’s communications adviser Margo Martin wrote on X alongside a video of the flag flying in the wind.
Top Republican tells anyone who criticizes America to get out
06:30 , Rachel DobkinA top House Republican has a stark message for anyone who criticizes America: “You can go to Europe.”
Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan, who serves as the House Republican Conference chair, raved about the rights afforded by the American democratic system, and then told people who favor communism to get out in an interview with Newsmax Thursday.
“The Constitution is the envy of the world. People risk their lives to come to America because of what we have — capitalism. We have a democracy. We have freedom of speech. We have love of country,” she said on the National Report.
“For the people in our country, who want to turn this country into a communist country. Leave. You’re free to leave. The beauty about America is, you can leave!” McClain said. “Go to Europe where they’re experiencing this heat wave and they don’t have any air condition[ing]. See how well that works for you.”
Read on...
Top Republican tells anyone who criticizes America to get out: ‘You can go to Europe’
In pictures: People brave the heat to visit Great American State Fair
05:45 , Rachel Dobkin
Trump loses again after appeals court orders ICE to hold bond hearings for deportees
05:00 , Alex WoodwardDonald Trump’s administration capped off a streak of significant legal victories in his anti-immigrant campaign with a major loss in the government’s attempts to detain thousands of immigrants while they fight against their deportation from the country.
A panel of judges on a notorious conservative federal appeals court has ruled that people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention must be granted a bond hearing before a judge within 90 days of their arrest.
The ruling marks at least the fourth such federal court order striking down a chief component of the administration’s attempts to swiftly detain and deport tens of thousands of people from the country before they’ve had their day in court, which civil rights groups and immigration lawyers have called stark violations of due process rights.
Trump loses again after appeals court orders ICE to hold bond hearings for deportees
Trump ends his Mount Rushmore speech
04:40 , Alex LangTrump has now concluded his speech from Mount Rushmore.
“After 250 years American freedom still rings. The American dream still lives and the American still flies more proudly than ever before,” Trump said. “Over the people who have not quit. The nation that will not fail. The country that will not fall. No matter how hard the enemy tries we can not be beaten.”
Trump slams communism
04:31 , Alex LangTrump hit a recent familiar refrain as he blasted communists, who he says include illegal migrants and people who don’t want to work.
“America will never be a communist country,” Trump said. “We can only lose the midterm if we allow ourselves to the midterms.”
The president’s speech started off by highlighting America, but he is now speaking on several of his common topics in recent weeks. He blasted communists - something he has said since progressives won several recent primary elections. He also spoke of passing his voting -rights act.
“On the eve of this 250th anniversary of American history, we resolve and swear for all to hear to vanquish communism quickly,” Trump said.
See Donald Trump speaking from Mount Rushmore
04:13 , Alex Lang
Trump now speaking from Mount Rushmore
04:08 , Alex LangPresident Donald Trump is now speaking from Mount Rushmore as he kicks off a day of July 4 celebrations across America.
“This is a big crowd, this is a lovely crowd, and what a sight it is,” Trump said.
Trump noted that on Saturday the country would celebrate 250 years of independence.
“At 250 years, America is the oldest Republic on Earth. We are the freest people on Earth,” Trump said. “We are the strongest and most powerful country on Earth.”
Watch: Bernie Sanders warns US is on the brink of a 'political revolution' ahead of July Fourth
04:00 , Rachel DobkinTrump's speech will boast about 'most exceptional nation in history': report
03:00 , Rachel DobkinDonald Trump is set to give a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota Friday night, where he will boast about the “most exceptional nation in history,” a spokesperson for the president told NBC News.
“President Trump will deliver a major address making clear what the world already knows: the United States is the greatest, strongest, and most exceptional nation in history,” the spokesperson said.
Watch: Trump flies over Mount Rushmore in Air Force One
02:50 , Rachel DobkinAIR FORCE ONE FLIES OVER MT. RUSHMORE — KICKING OFF AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZDLy38ZvNi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 4, 2026
Air Force One flies over Mount Rushmore
02:41 , Rachel Dobkin
White House uses hype from Taylor Swift's wedding for patriotic post
02:20 , Rachel DobkinAhead of the 250th anniversary of US independence on Saturday, the White House shared a compilation video of all things America — along with a Taylor Swift-themed caption.
“NEXT ON AMERICA’S ERAS TOUR,” the White House X account wrote, referencing the global pop sensation’s world tour.
Swift is tying the knot with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday.
The White House video showed clips of Elvis Presley, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars, and, of course, President Donald Trump.
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