Trump extols America, rails at communism at Mount Rushmore celebration

Speaking at Mount Rushmore on the eve of Independence Day, President Donald Trump urged Americans to defend the freedoms envisioned by the nation's founders. He framed this defense as a battle against a "communist menace" within the country, which he linked to progressive Democrats and immigrants.

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We stand beneath the monument of these heroes, a true group of unbelievable people, and we rededicate ourselves to being a nation as big, bold, noble, and as great as these American giants, and that's not easy to do, but we're going to do it.

"We stand beneath the monument of these heroes, a true group of unbelievable people, and we rededicate ourselves to being a nation as big, bold, noble, and as great as these American giants," Trump declared. He specifically targeted "newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and success," stating, "We're not going to let this happen."

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There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and success.

Trump's pointed remarks on the "communist threat" intensified his recent arguments against democratic socialists. This rhetoric also touches on anti-immigrant sentiments that have historically been part of criticisms of communism in the United States. He suggested that some newcomers should be expelled, vowing, "America will never be a communist country!"

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We're not going to let this happen.

The president's address comes amid growing Republican unease about the impact of progressive candidates' victories in recent Democratic primaries. Trump has called these successes "the greatest threat to our country since its founding," as the party faces potential losses in the upcoming midterm elections.

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We resolve and swear for all to hear that the citizens of the United States of America will vanquish communism quickly ... We will send them quickly away, and we will continue to build our country bigger and better, stronger than ever before. America will never be a communist country!