Trump commemorates Fourth of July with speech at Mount Rushmore

President Donald Trump basked in a celebration of the country's 250th birthday at Mount Rushmore on Friday, standing before a memorial to some of the most beloved presidents as he looks to boost his own political standing ahead of midterm elections.

The optics at the event in South Dakota, part of the anniversary celebrations leading up to July 4, offered just the latest example of how Trump has seized on the festivities at a politically challenging time - seeking to link himself to historic past presidents and improve a national mood soured by anxiety over his economic agenda and the war with Iran.

"Tonight, 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. "We salute the fathers of our country."

Hovering over Trump and those gathered for the show were massive 60-foot carveouts with the faces of four presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Historians have ranked them as among the greatest U.S. presidents.

Trump has expressed a desire to some day be memorialized alongside some of the country's most iconic leaders. During his first term, then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Trump told her it was his "dream" to be honored in that way.

Before landing in South Dakota, the new Air Force One, which was donated by Qatar, flew over Mount Rushmore twice. Marine One also flew over the memorial. Trump was greeted by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Trump has clashed with Senate Republicans in recent weeks over the Senate's inability to pass the Save America Act, a controversial bill tied to voting.

During his speech, Trump called on Congress to pass the act, saying "we can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms - if we are foolish."

The celebration at Mount Rushmore was intended to be unifying and bipartisan, but the president's commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America has drawn controversy. Critics have accused Trump of hijacking the country's birthday festivities to help boost a partisan agenda and to promote himself.

Earlier this week, Trump likened his accomplishments to those of Theodore Roosevelt during a dedication ceremony in North Dakota for the former leader's presidential library. And last week, Trump turned a launch event for the Great American State Fair into a campaign style rally on the National Mall.

During his Mount Rushmore speech, he hearkened back to the Cold War era and also dinged political opponents.

"A generation after we fought and won the Cold War against the menace of communism, 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," Trump said Friday.

The national memorial at Mount Rushmore provided a stunning backdrop for a fireworks display - the first at the site in six years despite worries about the threat of wildfires as South Dakota grapples with a drought and above-average temperatures.

Mount Rushmore is overseen by the National Park Service, led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who introduced Trump at the event. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, sponsored a bill in 2025 to direct the secretary to arrange for Trump's likeness to be added to the memorial but the legislation has seen no movement in the House.

Trump visited Mount Rushmore in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, using his speech - months before the presidential election that year - to decry what he cast as left-wing extremism. He's returned to a similar theme in recent days, ahead of November midterms where his Republican Party could lose control of Congress.

The build-up to July 4 comes at a pivotal moment for the president with polls showing his approval near record lows. Trump has sought to swing the nation's mood at the 250th anniversary events. At the rally on the Mall, he declared that "America is back," defended the Iran war and insisted that energy prices - which spiked with the conflict - would soon drop.

Trump has long seen himself as indistinguishable from his policies - insisting he is the only president who can ensure America's future greatness.

He will return to Washington for the July 4 festivities, where he has promised the world's largest fireworks display and will speak. Forecasters are predicting scorching temperatures for the holiday weekend, but Trump joked this week that would have no effect on his plans.

(Jeff Mason contributed to this report.)

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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 1:14 AM.