President Donald Trump kicked off America’s 250th birthday celebration with a half-hour speech at Mount Rushmore on July 3, 2026, delivering remarks that blended patriotic messages about American exceptionalism with stark warnings about what he described as a resurgent “communist menace” in the country.
Trump spoke before thousands of ticket-lottery winners who gathered at the South Dakota monument on the eve of Independence Day. “You can be loyal to Karl Marx or you can be loyal to America. You can be a communist or you can be a patriot. You cannot be both,” Trump declared, according to NBC News.
The president called communism “a mortal threat to American liberty,” comparing it to threats including 9/11 and describing it as “the enemy of the Constitution” and “the enemy of July 4, 1776.” He pledged that “the citizens of the United States of America will vanquish communism quickly,” according to multiple outlets including The Hill and Reuters.
Trump’s arrival carried theatrical flair: Air Force One flew directly behind the carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. “We come to this beautiful mountain — and it is beautiful — to express our gratitude to those who made it possible, starting with the four men most responsible for reaching this milestone, more than any others,” Trump said, referencing the illuminated presidential faces overhead.
The National Park Service announced in May 2026 that fireworks would return to Mount Rushmore for the first time since 2020, marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. The July 3 event was ticketed, with spots allocated through a public lottery on Recreation.gov. After Trump’s speech concluded, attendees stayed for a fireworks display illuminating the granite monument.
Trump’s remarks on communism came as a response to recent primary victories by at least four Democratic candidates who identify as democratic socialists or progressives. He attacked Democrats broadly, calling them “The Communist Party” and describing them as composed of “illegal immigrants, criminals and everybody that doesn’t want to work,” according to The Hill’s reporting of the speech.
The president also used the platform to call for abolishing the Senate filibuster and passing his SAVE America Act, an election bill. “We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms, if we are foolish, stupid, and unwise,” Trump said. “But if we terminate the filibuster as we should do, and immediately vote for the Save America Act, then we will not lose an election for 100 years,” he continued, per The Hill.
Attendees included Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., daughter Tiffany Trump, and her husband Michael Boulos. Hail and rain disrupted the pre-program, forcing guests to seek shelter, but skies cleared ahead of Trump’s appearance, according to NBC News.
The Mount Rushmore celebration marked the opening event of America’s 250th birthday weekend. On July 4, 2026, the nation commemorated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with celebrations spanning coast to coast. A related event featured Trump speaking at Mount Rushmore to mark the milestone, drawing widespread media coverage of the president’s remarks.
Sources
- NBC News — Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore, the communist threat warnings, Air Force One flyover, and attendee details
- The Hill — Trump’s speech content, communist menace rhetoric, filibuster and SAVE America Act remarks, and attendee list
- CBS News — Trump’s warning of communist menace in his July Fourth speech
- Reuters — Trump’s remarks on communism and American strength at Mount Rushmore
- National Park Service — Announcement of fireworks return to Mount Rushmore on July 3, 2026
- Travel South Dakota — Mount Rushmore fireworks celebration details for July 3, 2026
