Trump warns of communist threat and stages spectacle at Mount Rushmore

In his speech, the president attacked Democrats, immigrants, and political opponents as "radicals and extremists." He repeatedly described the left wing of the Democratic Party as "communist" and extended this characterization to "newcomers" whose ideas, he claimed, contradicted the American way of life. "You don't have to be born here, but you have to love what we have built," Trump said on the subject of immigration.

Trump stages himself as defender of the nation

Trump had previewed the appearance himself in advance: he wanted to "give a really long speech, just to show that I can handle anything." The appearance was announced in advance for 9:45 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (Sunday, 3:45 a.m. CEST), so that it would end precisely at the start of Independence Day in the early morning hours.

In substance, Trump emphasized that "Our rights" had been bestowed by God, "who created us." He added: "No other country has brought more good to this world than the United States of America." He stressed that English is spoken in the U.S. because it is the language of the Founding Fathers.

Background: 250 years of independence

His country should remain true to the dream that had earned it the title "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave," Trump continued. This rhetoric fits into a series of Trump's appearances around the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, 13 North American colonies broke away from Great Britain.

The opposition Democrats accuse Trump of exploiting the 250th-anniversary celebrations for a partisan spectacle ahead of November's midterm congressional elections. Those elections are regarded as an important mood test for the second half of Trump's term and could shift the balance of power in the U.S. Congress.

International reactions to the anniversary

On Independence Day itself, an event styled like a campaign rally is planned in Washington. According to reports, flyovers by military jets and a fireworks display featuring 850,000 pyrotechnic shells are announced, which organizers say would set a record.

Trump's appearance was accompanied by international reactions. German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Trump on the anniversary and, according to the Office of the Federal President, wrote that the values of July 4 — freedom, law, and self-determination — had "made world history." "And the answer is never given by a single individual, but by the people of free and equal people," Steinmeier was quoted as saying. He emphasized: "That is what the revolutionaries of 1776 intended."

Pope Leo, for his part, recalled the founding documents of the United States, according to the Vatican: he prayed that "the lofty ideals anchored at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the nation's prosperity in unity, justice, and peace." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke by phone with the U.S. president, according to his office.

Not all events surrounding the anniversary drew large crowds: a "Great American State Fair" in Washington attracted only a few visitors according to reports and was mocked for its empty stalls. The festive mood of many people was also dampened by the weather conditions.

Heatwave dampens the festive mood

For days now, the U.S. capital has been sweltering under scorching heat of around 40 degrees Celsius (104°F). Temperatures of more than 38 degrees Celsius (100°F) are forecast for Saturday in Washington. The celebrations are accompanied by hot temperatures of sometimes over 40 degrees Celsius. Combined with high humidity, the apparent temperature could reach up to 43 degrees Celsius (109°F).

At the same time, Trump announced resistance against those he portrayed as a threat: "We will not allow this," he emphasized. In recent years, he said, there had been an "undeniable attempt" to "change the exceptional character of the USA" and to "alienate Americans from their history."

Mount Rushmore as a political backdrop

The choice of Mount Rushmore as a backdrop is programmatic: the monument in the state of South Dakota is world-famous for the portraits of Presidents George Washington (1st President), Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt carved into the rock. It stands symbolically for the American founding tradition and is venerated by conservatives as a national symbol.

In Washington, the program is set to continue on Saturday with a major fireworks display. According to plans released in advance, 850,000 pyrotechnic shells are announced — which, according to organizers, would represent a world record. Security authorities were preparing for a massive deployment, according to local media reports.

Overall, Trump's appearance illustrates his effort to use the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence as a political stage — with fierce attacks on domestic political opponents and a warning about what he describes as a communist threat. The Democrats see this as an inappropriate instrumentalization of the national holiday ahead of the November congressional elections.