President Donald Trump delivered a speech on July 4, 2026, in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The speech followed a two-hour evacuation of the National Mall due to severe weather. Trump honored veterans, including World War II veterans and William Harvey Carney, the first Black man awarded the Medal of Honor.
In his remarks, Trump highlighted American military achievements and referenced his administration's actions in Venezuela and Iran. He stated, "You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran, we wiped it out, wiped out their military," and compared historical military events to recent actions against Iran.
The president criticized communism, suggesting it poses a threat in America, and stated, "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." He also advocated for the SAVE America Act, which would require voter identification and proof of citizenship for registration.
Trump concluded by declaring the anniversary as the beginning of a "golden age of America," asserting that "the best is yet to come."