President Donald Trump spoke at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening to mark the beginning of the United States' 250th birthday celebrations. Standing beneath four of his predecessors, Trump delivered a half-hour speech as part of a tour celebrating the milestone anniversary of the nation's declaration of independence from Britain.
During the address, the president launched a partisan attack on a resurgent "communist menace," which he described as a severe threat to the country. Framing supporters of this movement as "the enemy of July 4th, 1776," Trump specifically portrayed progressive Democrats as the source of this threat and called on Americans to protect the freedoms envisioned by the nation's founders 250 years ago.
The event took place as Trump seeks to boost his political standing ahead of midterm elections. While the location provided a fitting image for a president who views himself as one of the greats, he will not have his likeness carved into the monument. Despite pushes from his allies, geotechnical surveys have ruled out adding any further figures to the memorial.