Trump Opens US Independence 250th Anniversary with Speech on American Identity

President Donald Trump is inaugurating the 250th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence with a visit to Mount Rushmore, where he will deliver a speech at the base of the monument featuring large sculptures of four of his predecessors.

Caroline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, told reporters before the president's arrival that Trump's address would be "inspirational and optimistic," centering on the core of American identity.

According to Agence France-Presse, she added that the remarks would also serve as a "severe rebuke of communism," a theme Trump has emphasized repeatedly in recent weeks.

Trump regards himself as one of the great leaders in US history and seeks to turn any national occasion into a celebration of his persona.

Supporting Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill proposing to carve Trump's face into Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

On July 4, Trump is organizing a rally at the National Mall in Washington, featuring military aircraft flyovers and what he described as the largest fireworks display in the world.

Peter Logg, director of the School of Media at George Washington University, told Agence France-Presse, "Trump loves the spotlight, and I think he is trying to monopolize it."

Trump's Approval Ratings Near Historic Lows

However, Trump's approval ratings are approaching some of their lowest points ever, particularly due to the war with Iran and rising living costs in the United States.

In a podcast interview aired Friday with Osha Vance, wife of his deputy Jay Dee Vance, Trump said, "We have a great country, but it stands at a crossroads...".

The 250th Independence celebrations, organized by a group linked to Trump, have seen limited public turnout.

An exhibition held in the capital to celebrate independence attracted few visitors, leading to satirical campaigns about its empty pavilions. Additionally, extreme heat discouraged larger crowds.

Nonetheless, Trump stated on Wednesday, "On July 4, the temperature will reach about 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), and I will go and give a very long speech, just to prove that I can do anything."

Public Sentiment on the American Dream

While the United States marks 250 years of a history filled with achievements and tragedies, including slavery and freedom, the Civil War, and two world wars, opinion polls show Americans are pessimistic about the realization of the "American Dream."

A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday found that 61% of Americans believe the United States does not uphold the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

Views on this issue are divided: the majority of Republicans believe the principles are upheld, whereas most Democrats think they are not.

Trump is increasingly using the 250th anniversary celebrations as a platform to rally political support for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November.

Republicans fear that Trump's declining popularity could cost them their majority in Congress, potentially opening the door for a third impeachment proceeding against the president, a historic first. Nonetheless, for many Americans, the occasion remains a celebration.