Donald Trump’s July 4 celebrations ‘descending into chaos’
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at “far left fascism” in a controversial July 4th celebration at Mount Rushmore.
US President Donald Trump has spoken at a controversial July 4 celebrations, that had descended into chaos before they even began.
Mr Trump began his speech by making a promise that the mountain monument will “never be desecrated” calling Mount Rushmore “beautiful, majestic” and “magnificent” to applause from the crowd. The comments come after criticism in recent days the monument was linked with Confederate oppression and was built on land stolen from the Lakota Siuox people.
Mr Trump then took aim at “left wing fascism”, cancel culture and the United States education system in a wide ranging speech.
“This monument will never be desecrated,” Mr Trump, referring to Mount Rushmore before the crowd started chanting “USA”.
“Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders … and unleash violence in our cities,” the President said.
“They think the American people are weak and soft and submissive. But they don’t know they are strong and won’t allow its history and culture to be taken from them.”
Mr Trump also took aim at the education system in the country, saying children were being taught to “hate their country”.
He also lashed out at “cancel culture” calling it a “radical assault” on the American way of life.
“There is a new far left fascism that demands absolute allegiance,” he said
“If you do not follow its commands you will be censored and punished. Not gonna happen to us,” he said.
During the speech someone from the crowd could be heard screaming: “We love you!”
“Thank you very much,” the President responded.
Mr Trump also reiterated his commitment to “building the wall” between the US and Mexico saying he supported a country’s right to protect its own borders.
He also made anti-abortion comments — saying he believed all children were created in the image of God.
“We will not be tyrannised … we will never surrender the spirit of July 4th 1776,” he added.
Protesters earlier clashed with heavily armed police outside the celebrations and demonstrators were hit with tear gas as they tried to blockade the event.
Mr Trump made plans to hold a crowded celebration at Mount Rushmore despite the country’s sharp rise in coronavirus cases.
His political supporters said there would be no social distancing at the event, but masks will be available.
Commentators in the US say the gathering poses numerous risks, among them, spreading COVID-19.
There are also concerns about wildfires in surrounding areas sparked by fireworks planned for the event.
Mr Trump will travel back to Washington DC on Saturday to view military flyovers at the National Mall and a pyrotechnics display.
The Trump administration said it would be the biggest display in living memory.
The plans in the Capitol are going ahead despite drawing objections from Washington’s Mayor Muriel Bowser.
BREAKING: Trump’s Mt Rushmore event is already descending into chaos. Awful. pic.twitter.com/GKT84h6fLP
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 3, 2020
Critics said the Mount Rushmore site is symbol of Confederate period, having been built on land stolen from Native American tribes in violent circumstances.
The planned celebrations at Mount Rushmore have irked commentators in the US, after Trump’s political supporters said the event will go on without social distancing.
The Republican Governor of South Dakota Kirsti Noem said face masks would be available at the event but said “we won’t be social distancing”.
“We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home,” she said.
Some 7500 people were expected to attend the event, however a report from the ground said there was an estimated crowd at the site of about 3700.
The report said the Trump supporters were not wearing masks or distancing from one another.
A WH pool report from inside the Mount Rushmore amphitheater: We are in place at the amphitheater with an estimated crowd of about 3,700. It is shoulder to shoulder with no attempt at social distancing. The seats here are packed and the vast majority of the audience is unmasked.
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) July 4, 2020
Activist groups have long taken issue with Mount Rushmore monument which was formerly known as the Black Hills area.
The area was given to the Lakota Siuox in a treaty but then taken from them by force in the 1870s.
National Guard and U.S. Park Police out in full force right now at Mt. Rushmore as protesters arrive ahead of President Trump’s arrival and speech. pic.twitter.com/AwXThzj2h1
— Preston Phillips (@PrestonTVNews) July 4, 2020
Two of the four faces carved into Mount Rushmore — George Washington and Thomas Jefferson — were also slave owners.
It’s expected Mr Trump will speak about protesters who he claims are trying to “tear down” the US, according to a Trump campaign official.
“The left wing mob and those practising cancel culture are engaging in totalitarian behaviour that is completely alien to American life – and we must not accept it,” the official told the BBC, in a summary of the expected comments from the President.
It comes after the President spent recent days tweeting about monuments and statues being torn down across the US.
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