On July 3, Trump spoke at Mount Rushmore, where the faces of former U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt are carved into the mountain.
"We stand beneath this monument to heroes," Trump said, reaffirming, "We will be a great, bold, noble, and magnificent country, just like these giants of America." He emphasized that the United States is the "oldest republic on Earth," claiming it has achieved the most success and excellence of any nation in human history.
However, much of his speech targeted the progressive faction within the Democratic Party. Trump characterized the recent rise of Democratic socialist candidates as a 'communist threat,' linking his Independence Day message to a political offensive.
"The threat of communism is rising again on our land," he asserted, adding that this includes newcomers who embrace ideologies completely opposed to our way of life and great success. He continued, "We will not allow this to happen."
Trump declared, "American citizens will swiftly defeat communism," insisting, "America will never become a communist country." He immediately referenced the upcoming midterm elections, stating, "The only way we can lose in the midterms is if we allow ourselves to lose."
Reuters noted that while Trump has made similar claims about the rise of Democratic socialists over the past week, this speech marked his most direct and extensive argument on the topic.
As inflation and high gasoline prices continue to fuel voter dissatisfaction following the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, concerns are growing within the Republican Party about potentially losing control of at least one chamber of Congress in the November midterms.
In recent Democratic primaries held in New York City and Colorado, four progressive candidates, including three Democratic socialists, emerged victorious. Progressive candidates have also won elections in Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
During his speech, Trump also addressed the issue of Iran, stating, "They desperately want to negotiate," and added, "We gave (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran) a week off to hold his funeral. We have been kind for 250 years."
Trump's visit to Mount Rushmore comes six years after his Independence Day speech there in 2020, during which he faced criticism for holding a large political event amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
This year’s Independence Day celebrations are taking place amid a heatwave affecting the eastern United States. Reuters reported that Trump is expected to speak before a large fireworks display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on July 4.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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