US President Donald Trump on Saturday marked the 250th anniversary of American independence with a speech at the National Mall, combining patriotic appeals with partisan messaging after severe storms briefly disrupted celebrations and forced an evacuation of the venue.
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He said, "American people must never forget that we are historic and heroic people with a heroic spirit and a heroic purpose on this beautiful earth of ours."
In his speech, Trump described the anniversary as "one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time" and paid tribute to US veterans, including World War II servicemen and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat during the Vietnam War.
"We will always be on top," Trump said. "We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best."
""For 250 years, the United States of America has been the hope, the promise, the light, and the glory among all of the nations of the world... with God's help, we can always be this or even better... Here on our National Mall, we're celebrating Freedom's triumph over tyranny, liberty's conquest over oppression, and the enduring victory of the America spirit from July 4, 1776 to July 4, 2026... Tonight, our country is stronger, freer, richer, safer and prouder than ever before," he added.
Referring to America's Founding Fathers, Trump said, "In Philadelphia, our Founding Fathers summoned the courage of giants and the wisdom of centuries to boldly proclaim these timeless truths. They declared that 'all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.' In signing their names to the roster of freedom, those 56 Patriots put everything at risk, stepped onto the stage of destiny, and seized a victory for the ages."
He added, "We are made in the courage, fire, flesh, and blood of the best and the bravest people this world has ever produced. Tonight, we pledge allegiance to the flag they gave us — and we say, 'God bless the immortal patriots of 1776, and LONG LIVE THE CAUSE OF INDEPENDENCE!'"
