Trump hails U.S. exceptionalism before veering into darkly political speech to usher in America 250

By — Steven Sloan, Associated Press Steven Sloan, Associated Press By — Steve Peoples, Associated Press Steve Peoples, Associated Press By — Michelle L. Price, Associated Press Michelle L. Price, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-hails-u-s-exceptionalism-before-veering-into-darkly-political-speech-to-usher-in-america-250 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump hails U.S. exceptionalism before veering into darkly political speech to usher in America 250 Nation Jul 4, 2026 11:35 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump ushered in the 250th anniversary of American independence on Friday with soaring rhetoric about American exceptionalism before veering into a darkly political speech with warnings about a sinister threat of communism that evoked one of the country's ugliest chapters. WATCH: America's global legacy at 250 "Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty," he said from Mount Rushmore. "It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11." While the language was similar to several other speeches Trump has given in recent days, it was notable for being delivered in a national park that commemorates some of America's most prominent presidents. And it swerved from the typically apolitical, unifying speeches past presidents like Gerald Ford or Ronald Reagan have delivered during earlier high-profile Independence Day celebrations. Indeed, Trump's language evoked the Red Scare of the 1950s, when alleged communists were persecuted and blacklisted from jobs across America, from Washington to Hollywood. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, delivered his own address that cast America as a nation of contradictions "working each day towards the perfection in which it was conceived." READ MORE: Poll: Most Americans think the U.S. has strayed from its founding principles The president's speech capped an Independence Day eve that was otherwise most notable for a brutal heat wave the gripped much of the eastern portion of the country. Officials have warned those celebrating the holiday to stay hydrated and take air-conditioned breaks as needed. Philadelphia canceled its Salute to Independence parade Friday. The Great American State Fair in Washington shut down in the early afternoon before reopening at 5 p.m. The Capitol Fourth concert, a mainstay of the holiday in Washington, opened its gates a little later than normal but ultimately moved forward with appearances from Patti LaBelle, Trace Adkins, members of the Artemis II space mission and fireworks over George Washington's Mount Vernon. An Independence Day parade scheduled for Saturday in Washington was canceled. Looking for a place to cool off By early afternoon Friday in Washington, hundreds of people were roaming the grounds of the National Mall, home to The Great American State Fair. They snapped phot