US President Donald Trump used America’s 250th anniversary celebration to deliver a campaign-style speech on the National Mall, renewing calls for stricter voting laws, warning against what he described as the threat of communism, and highlighting what he called his administration’s achievements.
The Independence Day address, delayed by nearly two hours because of thunderstorms, blended patriotic tributes with partisan political messaging as Trump urged Congress to revive stalled election legislation and defended his foreign policy record.
Speaking before thousands gathered on the National Mall, Trump said the United States must act swiftly against ideological threats, comparing communism to a disease that should be eliminated before it spreads.
“We like to stop a threat like that immediately and before it begins. It’s like a cancer you’ve got to cut it out and you got to cut it out fast.”
Trump also renewed his push for tighter election laws, urging lawmakers to approve measures that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and impose new restrictions on mail-in ballots. He further claimed his administration had “wiped out” Iran’s military while celebrating what he described as major American accomplishments, including wartime victories, the Moon landing, the Wright brothers’ first flight and the nation’s democratic system.
The speech marked another departure from longstanding presidential tradition. Apart from Trump’s own 2019 address, no US president has delivered an Independence Day speech on the National Mall since 1951, reflecting his continued blending of official state events with campaign-style appearances.
Thousands of visitors endured temperatures exceeding 39 degrees Celsius and heightened security to attend the event. Severe thunderstorms later forced authorities to temporarily evacuate the National Mall, with spectators sheltering in nearby museums and government buildings before returning once conditions improved.
Although Trump had joked earlier in the week that he would deliver “a really long speech” to prove “I can do anything,” the address lasted less than 40 minutes, considerably shorter than many of his previous speeches.
The event also drew criticism over its increasingly partisan character. The Trump administration’s Freedom 250 organisation has taken the lead in organising anniversary celebrations, overshadowing a bipartisan commission established by Congress in 2016 to oversee preparations for the country’s 250th anniversary.
The National Mall was transformed into a “Great American State Fair,” featuring a Ferris wheel, exhibits by conservative organisations and defence contractors, alongside other Freedom 250-branded events, including a conservative Christian rally and sporting competitions.
Several Democratic-led states declined to participate in the celebrations, while a number of performers reportedly withdrew over concerns about the political direction of the anniversary events.
Polls cited during the celebrations found that most Americans believe commemorations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary have become overly politicised, including about three-quarters of Democrats and roughly half of Republicans.
Members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front were seen marching through Washington earlier in the day before using the city’s Metro system. Police said they received no reports of violence linked to the group’s activities.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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