Trump Offers Peek Into New Electoral Recipe: Patriotism Laced With Partisan Politics
US President Donald Trump invoked partisan politics and patriotic appeals as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, declaring the moment as “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.”
In a trademark departure from the presidential addresses for Independence Day, Trump dabbled with partisan politics on the occasion, in which US presidents usually offer unifying pledges.
The US president peppered his speech with references to the SAVE America Act, and an elections bill that’s facing resistance from even Republicans in Congress, the Associated Press reported.
Trump also did not hesitate to draw attention to his support for the Second Amendment and invoked the threat of communism, in a familiar diatribe increasingly seen as forming the core of Trump’s electoral messaging ahead of the November midterms.
“Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the world only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America,” Trump said as a crowd at the National Mall cheered.
“It’s like a cancer. You got to cut it out,” he added. Trump has repeatedly sought to tag his domestic political opponents as communists.
Trump hailed American exceptionalism during the festivities that the White House has termed as the country’s “most important milestone”.
“The American dream is back,” he said.
“No people have done more good, shown more courage, made more progress, righted more injustice, or achieved more greatness than you, the American people,” he said in a rallying cry invoking a dose of patriotism to a cheering crowd.
“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,” he said.
“We will always be on top,” Trump said. “We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.”
Trump sought to veer away from the routine rally speeches in which he spoke about himself.
The US President, however, did not hesitate to joking refer to seeking another term as president.
Trump lauded World War II’s “greatest generation.” “They are the greatest generation. I hate to admit that, but they are,” Trump said.
He also honored war veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam
Earlier on Saturday, storms prompted a near two-hour evacuation of the National Mall in Washington.
The heat dome over the US eastern coast also force the authorities to cancel many planned activities to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America.
In many regions, the sweltering heat crossed the 100 mark. Celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, were reportedly cancelled. Boston’s fireworks and concert organizers directed spectators to seek shelter for a while, though the festivities later resumed.
New York and Pittsburgh shifted the time of festivities due to the weather and an evacuation was ordered in Philadelphia, AP reported.
