President Trump delivered a speech at Mount Rushmore to mark the United States' 250th anniversary, weaving political themes alongside tributes to veterans and American history, according to BBC News.
NPR reported that the address included warnings about communism and departed from the typically unifying tone that past presidents have brought to Independence Day speeches. Prior presidents have generally kept such remarks apolitical, NPR said.
BBC News reported that the speech touched on elements of Trump's political agenda while also honoring war veterans and the country's history. The celebrations surrounding the anniversary included fireworks and flyovers, the BBC said, and extreme weather was present during the festivities.
The United States turned 250 years old at the time of the event, according to both NPR and BBC News. Trump's choice of Mount Rushmore as the venue placed him before a monument carved with the faces of four former presidents as the nation marked a quarter-millennium of independence.