Trump's Mount Rushmore Speech Kicks Off US 250th Anniversary Celebrations
President Donald Trump visited Mount Rushmore on Friday (3/7) to open the series of celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary. He delivered a speech at the foot of the iconic monument featuring the carved faces of four of his legendary predecessors.
Before the president’s arrival, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump’s speech would be ‘inspiring and optimistic’ and focus on the theme of what it means to be an American. She added that the statement would also ‘serve as a stern rebuke of Communism,’ a theme the president has repeatedly echoed in recent weeks.
Amid this momentum, the 80-year-old Republican politician is seen as trying to turn the major American commemoration into a celebration of himself. The speech location is considered symbolic for Trump, who views himself as one of the great leaders. In fact, his supporters have proposed legislation to have his face carved alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
‘Trump loves the spotlight, and I think he’s trying to take the spotlight,’ Peter Loge, Director of the School of Media at George Washington University, told AFP.
However, the national celebration is taking place amid a politically divided America. Public satisfaction with Trump is nearing a low point, triggered by the conflict in Iran and a surge in the cost of living. During an appearance on Second Lady Usha Vance’s podcast on Friday, Trump addressed the sense of national division when asked why children should celebrate the US anniversary.
‘We have a great country. We have a country that is under a little bit of pressure right now,’ he said. ‘It could go one way or the other, you understand that, but we’re going the other way.’
Beyond political issues, the celebration also faces technical challenges. The ‘Great American State Fair’ event in the capital was sparsely attended and drew mockery due to empty booths, compounded by an extreme heatwave. Despite this, Trump stated he was undaunted by the hot weather.
‘On the 4th of July, the temperature will be around 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), and I’m going to go there and give a very long speech, just to show I can do anything,’ Trump said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a recent Quinnipiac University survey shows 61% of Americans believe the US has not lived up to the ideals set out in the Declaration of Independence. Trump is increasingly using the 250th anniversary momentum as a stage to rally political support ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in November.