Trump warns of threats from within as US marks 250th birthday

The United States marked its 250th Independence Day with widespread celebrations, including fireworks, parades, and festivities across the nation. Washington D.C. hosted what officials described as the largest fireworks display in the country's history on the National Mall. President Donald Trump, however, infused the traditional holiday with a sharply political tone, expanding the event with military flyovers and a rally.

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We still want to celebrate the country and be patriotic and it's exciting.

The milestone anniversary arrived amidst a punishing heatwave gripping much of the U.S. Nearly 160 million people were under extreme heat alerts, forcing modifications or cancellations of outdoor events. In the capital, temperatures were expected to soar, with the heat index reaching up to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit), leading to the cancellation of Washington's Independence Day parade.

Trump, who had recently turned 80, downplayed the extreme weather concerns before his speech, stating his intention to deliver a long address to demonstrate his resilience. The holiday prompted reflection for many Americans. Patrick Thompson, a teacher from Virginia, expressed a desire to celebrate patriotism but noted a "strange mar" over the occasion due to political polarization and the anniversary's context.

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But it's so weird because it's got this strange mar over it because of Trump and just like the 250 thing that turns out to not be what anyone hoped.

Earlier, at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, Trump delivered a speech that praised American history while warning of domestic political forces he claimed were attacking the nation's identity. He accused "radicals and extremists" of attempting to undermine American values and identified a resurgence of communist ideology as a threat. These remarks echoed his recent rhetoric, emphasizing loyalty and warning against what he described as attempts to "beat the American spirit out of us."

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There has been an attempt to beat the American spirit out of us, alienate us from our history.