Tonight, President Trump is back in South Dakota, where he is delivering some very special remarks at Mount Rushmore.
As I write this article, his speech is happening live.
You can watch the full thing right here:
President Trump Delivers Remarks at Mount Rushmore, Jul. 3, 2026 https://t.co/uqsWzXhQTk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 4, 2026
NBC News summed up President Trump’s remarks, so far:
Trump took the stage at Mount Rushmore just after 11 p.m. ET.
“Tonight we gather on the eve of one of the most extraordinary days in the history of the world. Tomorrow we mark 250 years of glorious independence and 250 years of majestic American freedom. Nothing like it,” he said.
As forecast by press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump began by focusing on America’s strength, calling the U.S. the “most powerful country on Earth.”
“By the grace of God, the United States of America is the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history, and it is great to be your president,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly invoked America’s unique identity and culture, saying, “There has never been anything like this.”
“We can never forget that American liberty has not endured for 250 years merely because of words on paper, liberty has prevailed here because of the culture and character of the people who declared it, defended it and preserved it,” he said.
Passing on that character, he said, is “the core of patriotic duty of every American.”
But in recent years, he said, there has “been an undeniable attempt to change this exceptional character to beat the American spirit out of us, alienate us from our history, and to make it impossible to even answer the question, ‘What does it mean to be an American?'”
“So, tonight, let us say clearly and proudly, what makes Americans so unique and extraordinary, we’re going to give our country its identity back,” Trump said. “Above all, Americans love freedom.”
ADVERTISEMENTLater, Trump added: “You do not have to be born here, but you do have to love what we have built, you must love our country.”
President Trump’s speech will conclude a day of festivities at the famous National Memorial ahead of America’s 250th birthday tomorrow.
A spectacular fireworks show will kick off right after his speech ends.
As President Trump arrived to the event, his new Air Force flew right over Mount Rushmore.
What an incredible sight it was!
See for yourself here:
Then, as soon as President took the stage to give his speech, patriots broke out in applause and chants of “USA! USA!”
Check out the electric energy in the crowd:
"USA!" chants break out as President Trump takes the stage at Mount Rushmore! Turn to Fox News to watch the keynote address live as it happens. @america250 @freedom250 pic.twitter.com/rMx35lVh0V
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 4, 2026
Shortly after President Trump began delivering his remarks, the U.S. military carried out a flyover right over his head.
His reaction was simply hilarious!
Watch that moment here:
🚨 AWESOME! Mid-sentence of President Trump, the US military just carried out a FLYOVER above Mount Rushmore
TRUMP: "What a good—I was WAITING for that! They said, you start speaking, they won't interrupt you at all! They didn't interrupt us at all." 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/0eJLq5u5Lq
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 4, 2026
Scott Jennings shared another incredible photo capturing the whole scene, complete with Mount Rushmore in the background:
Trump marks America 250 under the watchful eye of his predecessors at Mt Rushmore. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pqv2U2LNxl
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 4, 2026
How picturesque and symbolic is that?
What a historic moment!
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