Trump at Mount Rushmore warns of Communist ‘enemy’ in ‘optimistic’ speech celebrating America’s birthday

Administration Trump at Mount Rushmore warns of Communist ‘enemy’ in ‘optimistic’ speech celebrating America’s birthday Comments: by Laura Kelly - 07/03/26 11:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Laura Kelly - 07/03/26 11:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump on Friday issued a “fierce rebuke” of communism as part of his Independence Day kickoff speech, injecting partisan rancor into remarks commemorating America’s 250th birthday with Mount Rushmore as the backdrop.

Speaking in Keystone, South Dakota, Trump declared that “such doctrines can be given no quarter,” issuing a thinly-veiled dark threat against less than a handful of rising Democratic candidates running as Democratic Socialists and progressives.

“As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack,” Trump warned.

“There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success,” he continued.

“Communism is the enemy of free people everywhere, everywhere in the world, never works, it’s the enemy of the Constitution, above all, it’s the enemy of July 4, 1776 – it is the enemy indeed.”

Trump’s speech came as a reaction to recent primary wins by at least four Democrats identifying as Democratic socialists or progressives. Trump and Republicans are homing in on these far-left candidates as the true heart of the Democratic party and a threat to the U.S.

Trump issued a plea for abolishing the filibuster and pass his election bill, the SAVE America Act. Senate Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who attended Trump’s speech, have pushed back against abolishing the filibuster and said there are not enough votes for the 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, and attacked Democrats as “The Communist Party,” saying they are made up of illegal immigrants, criminals “and everybody that doesn’t want to work.”

“Communism is a loser,” he said.

The dire warnings matched Trump’s other descriptions of the world, focused on a black and white view of success on one side and desperation on the other.

“We remember that what we have created in this country is not the natural way of the world, it is not the norm, it is the exception, it is rare, it is priceless, and it is truly miraculous,” the president said.

“Throughout the entire story of humanity. Most people in most places have lived a life plagued by suffering, poverty, exploitation, violence, and misery.”

But the president largely stuck to the teleprompter and spoke uplifting platitudes with a flat delivery. The White House had billed the speech as inspirational and optimistic, while offering a “fierce rebuke” of communism.

“The identity of a nation is the destiny of a nation, and America has a destiny like no other, because we are a people like no other,” Trump said, then added, “For whatever reason, that’s just the way it is here,” to laughs.

Trump paid homage to the four presidents carved in the stone behind him.

George Washington, the country’s first president; Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence; Theodore Roosevelt, representing the country’s expansion; and Abraham Lincoln, representing America’s preservation.

“These are the men who declared freedom, won our freedom, saved our freedom and secured our freedom. They were men of action, men of ambition, men of daring, men of destiny, and men of truly great intelligence,” the president said.

The president’s speech lasted about 30 minutes. He has promised that remarks in Washington D.C. on July 4 – experiencing a record-breaking heat wave – would push limits of some of his longest remarks as a show of endurance.

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden, who spoke before the president, thanked Trump for reviving the Independence Day celebrations at Mount Rushmore. The president last spoke at the monument in 2020.

“Here we recognize that our rights, liberties and freedoms are not given to us by government, but by God,” he said to loud cheers, “and government has no authority to take those rights away. America isn’t perfect… but America has overcome challenges for 250 years and turned them into opportunities and we will continue to do that by holding true to the ideals of the four men on this mountain,” he finished to cheers of “USA, USA, USA.”

Attendees of the president’s speech also included Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Traveling with the president included his son Donald Trump Jr., his wife Bettina, the president’s daughter Tiffany Trump, her husband Michael Boulos, chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Ross Worthington, director of speechwriting; James Blair, former deputy chief of staff currently running the president’s midterm political operation; John Hiller, deputy assistant to the president; Walt Nauta, director of White House operations, Sergio Gore, U.S. ambassador to India; Natalie Harp, executive assistant to the president, and Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor.