President Donald Trump delivered a speech at Mount Rushmore on Friday, marking the eve of the United States' 250th anniversary.
Addressing a crowd beneath the granite likenesses of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, he described the nation as the oldest republic and the most exceptional country in history.
Trump highlighted the Constitution, the freedoms it protects, and the United States' contributions to the world, asserting that no other nation has achieved comparable success.
He warned of a perceived growing communist influence, labeling it the greatest threat to the country and contrasting it with American values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The president urged Americans to choose between loyalty to Marxist ideology and patriotism, stating that the two are mutually exclusive.
Referencing historic battles and sacrifices, he emphasized that the nation's founders and the four presidents carved into the mountain embodied action, ambition and destiny.
An Air Force One flyover preceded the address, and a fireworks display over the Black Hills followed the remarks.
Trump announced a forthcoming speech on the National Mall, to be held before another fireworks celebration, and described the anniversary as the beginning of a new golden age for America.
