President Donald Trump decided the best way to ring in America's 250th birthday was to fly Air Force One directly over Mt. Rushmore like a man who just bought the world's most expensive house and wants the neighbors to know about it. And honestly, it kind of worked.
As Trending Politics reported, Trump held a rally and fireworks display at the South Dakota monument on Friday evening, July 3, kicking off the official America 250 celebrations. The event took place in the memorial's amphitheater, featured performances by the U.S. Air Force Academy Band (playing the hits like "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and "America the Beautiful"), and included military flyovers before Trump even took the stage. South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum gave brief warm-up remarks, because someone has to be the opening act at Mt. Rushmore.
The fireworks display lasted about 15 minutes and was the first such show at the site in several years, which means someone finally figured out the paperwork. It drew additional viewers from nearby areas, presumably because a 15-minute fireworks show over four giant stone presidents is not something you just ignore.
Trump's speech leaned heavily into the greatest hits of American exceptionalism. He called the United States "the most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history" and added that "no other country has done more good for this world than the United States of America." He also squeezed in his signature phrase, telling the crowd, "We will always fight, fight, fight and win, win, win." The man stays on brand.
On the topic of citizenship, Trump said, "You do not have to be born here, but you do have to love what we built. You must love our country." He also turned his attention to what he called the greatest threat to American liberty, declaring, "Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11." That is a bold ranking system, but the man was standing in front of a mountain with faces carved into it, so the setting encourages bold statements.
He closed by calling the 250th anniversary "not an ending" but "only the beginning of the golden age of America," promising to make the country "bigger, better and stronger than ever before."
After the speech, Trump flew back to Washington, D.C., arriving at the White House around 4 a.m. on July 4. Because nothing says patriotism like pulling an all-nighter. For the rest of the holiday weekend, the president's schedule includes a Salute to America Celebration on the National Mall, complete with what organizers are describing as one of the largest fireworks displays the Mall has seen in recent years, with aerial elements from multiple military branches.
Two fireworks shows in two nights. The man is not messing around with this birthday party.
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