President Donald Trump delivered a delayed speech on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on July 4, after severe storms forced the evacuation of crowds at the Freedom 250 celebration. Trump claimed that 375,000 people were evacuated, but about 150,000 returned for his 11 p.m. speech. In his address, Trump focused on the success of America, discussing his agenda and railing against communism.
He declared that ‘America will never be a communist country’ and promoted the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to show ID when casting ballots. Trump also brought out the crew from the recent Artemis II mission to the stage, receiving a loud round of applause. The crew had gone farther into space than any humans in history.
Trump said, ‘We’re gonna do the moon, and we’re gonna go from there … we’re gonna go to Mars and we’re gonna continue to be way ahead.’ After his speech, a massive fireworks show lit up the skies of Washington, D.C. The president joined first lady Melania Trump to watch the show. Earlier in the day, extreme heat forced organizers to cancel Washington’s Independence Day parade.
Hundreds of members of the neofascist group Patriot Front gathered in the nation’s capital, chanting ‘reclaim America’ as the country celebrated its 250th anniversary. Trump’s speech mostly stayed on script, but he did mention some of his political agenda and promoted himself throughout. He blasted communism and claimed America is stronger today than at any point in history.
The president concluded his speech by declaring that the ‘spirit of 1776 still lives within us all’ and that ‘the best is yet to come.’ Trump also said, ‘After 250 years, the spirit of 1776 still lives within us all. It still roars in the hearts of our nation’s capital. It still burns in the heart of every patriot, thunders through every city and town, and it still lights the entire world with the glow of American liberty, and there is nothing like that.’ Trump’s speech was notable for its partisan shots, including his demand for voter ID and his criticism of communism.
Trump was also mocked online for saying ‘immortible’ instead of ‘immortal.’
