Trump against the ‘communists’ on 4 July; Zelensky: ‘The US must protect the world from tyrants’

The president then changed his tone, warning against those who, in his view, do not want English to remain the dominant language of the United States, against those who would like to confiscate weapons, and against ‘newcomers to our country who embrace ideas that are completely at odds with our way of life and our great success’.

“Communism is the exact opposite of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “It is death, tyranny and the pursuit of evil.”

Trump had already used Mount Rushmore as a political backdrop six years ago, at the end of his first term, during an election campaign he subsequently lost. At that time, in the midst of the pandemic and the protests following the death of George Floyd, he had warned against a “new far-left fascism”. This time, he has set his sights on communism.

The speech was accompanied by a striking patriotic display: military helicopters and a B-52 bomber flew over the area, whilst at sunset the floodlights illuminated the monument. Shortly before the President’s arrival, a storm with lightning and hail had forced part of the audience to seek shelter.

Towards the end, Trump launched one final attack: “The Communist Party is made up of illegal immigrants, criminals and anyone who doesn’t want to work.” He then returned for a few minutes to celebrate the United States, whilst fireworks lit up Mount Rushmore.

“Today we celebrate 250 years of one of humanity’s brightest, strongest and most influential dreams: the American dream of an independent, free and prosperous nation that protects people’s freedom, faith and pursuit of happiness. This dream has weathered many trials and has not only survived but, over the course of two and a half centuries, has served as an example to other nations and helped to make humanity as a whole freer. This was particularly important in the 20th century, when America helped to protect the world from the rule of tyrants and forged alliances and partnerships that, for the first time, offered much of humanity lasting peace and the chance for free development.” So said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram in a message for 4 July.

“Now, in the 21st century, America’s influence and importance have not diminished,” added the Ukrainian leader. “We greatly appreciate the support of the United States, especially at this time of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine. American weapons – from the ‘Javelins’, which President Trump has decided to supply to Ukraine, to the ‘Patriots’, which reliably protect the lives of our soldiers – demonstrate the strength of the American spirit, American determination and American technology. And we are well aware of the value of all these words. When we ask the United States for the ‘Patriot’ systems, we believe that the values of respect for life and for people – which held true 250 years ago – will hold true today as well. The world needs leadership that guarantees the protection of freedom and life.”

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, also sent a message to Trump: ‘This year, the 4th of July celebrations take on exceptional significance for the United States of America, as it marks the 250th anniversary of independence. I would therefore like to extend the warmest congratulations of the Italian Republic and my own personal congratulations to the American people, our friends.” Mattarella also emphasised: “Today’s celebration is part of the history of the United States, but over time it has become the shared heritage of all those who identify with the principles of freedom, democratic representation and the universal protection of every person’s rights, including the right to pursue a dignified and happy life.” For Mattarella, ‘drawing on these founding ideals, the Declaration of Independence of 1776 has inspired the political and civic development of the United States, as well as that of many other nations across every continent’.

In a message posted on X addressed to President Trump, King Charles wrote that ‘looking ahead to the next 250 years’, he has no doubt that the United Kingdom and the United States will continue to uphold ‘shared values’, citing freedom and the rule of law among them. Charles added that he was convinced that “the bond between our peoples… can only grow stronger with the passing of time”. The King and Queen Camilla had undertaken a four-day state visit to the United States at the end of April, which was seen as an attempt to strengthen relations between Washington and London.

Following his visit to Mount Rushmore, Trump has returned to Washington. Here, the tycoon is due to speak this evening on the National Mall, as part of his efforts to put his political stamp on the celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary. An organisation linked to Trump, called ‘Freedom 250’, has taken control of much of the celebrations, wresting them from the bipartisan group America250, prompting many people to boycott the main events.

In a podcast interview with JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, Trump spoke about his predecessors, the image of the presidency and even his own physical appearance. According to the Washington Post, when discussing his reading habits, Trump said he mainly reads stories about himself. When asked by Vance whether he still had time to read for pleasure, Trump replied that he did not devote much time to recreational reading. “I end up reading mostly newspapers,” he said. “I usually read stories about myself.”