MOUNT RUSHMORE, South Dakota | July 4, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump officially launched celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence with a nationally televised speech at Mount Rushmore, paying tribute to the nation’s founders while calling on Americans to preserve what he described as the country’s founding ideals.
Speaking beneath the iconic monument honoring former U.S. presidents, Trump declared, “We salute the fathers of our country,” praising the vision and sacrifices of America’s founders as the United States commemorated its semiquincentennial. The event featured patriotic displays, music, military flyovers, and fireworks as part of nationwide Independence Day celebrations.
During his address, Trump emphasized American exceptionalism and urged citizens to protect the nation’s freedoms and constitutional principles. He also devoted a significant portion of his speech to political themes, warning against what he called a renewed “communist menace” and criticizing progressive political movements, arguing they posed a threat to the country’s founding values.
The Mount Rushmore event marked the official start of the White House’s “Freedom 250” celebrations commemorating America’s 250 years of independence. Festivities across the country include historical exhibitions, concerts, state fairs, military demonstrations, and fireworks displays, celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
While supporters hailed the ceremony as a patriotic tribute to American history, critics argued that the president’s speech adopted a sharply partisan tone during what many viewed as a national celebration intended to unite the country.
