WASHINGTON
\nPresident Donald Trump mixed partisan politics with patriotic appeals on Saturday as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, a moment he declared \u201cone of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.\u201d
\nSpeaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honored veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam.
\nThey appeared before flags that symbolized some of the most significant and challenging moments in American history, from the one that was draped over Abraham Lincoln\u2019s casket to the one that flew on the plane piloted by the Wright Brothers.
\nYet Trump also leaned into partisan territory unusual for an Independence Day address, which presidents typically use as a moment to unify the country. Instead, he stumped again for the SAVE America Act, an elections bill that\u2019s encountering challenges even from Trump\u2019s fellow Republicans in Congress.
\nHe highlighted his support for the Second Amendment and revived denunciations of communism, which are becoming an increasingly central part of Trump\u2019s message ahead of the November midterms.
\nThe speech capped a holiday that Trump has gone to great lengths to shape to his own tastes.
\nHe was introduced by two musical performers who often appear at his trademark rallies, including Lee Greenwood, who performed \u201cGod Bless America.\u201d The event organizers were largely aligned with the White House, supplanting a bipartisan organization that was launched by Congress a decade ago.
\n\u201cWe will always be on top,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.\u201d Trump didn\u2019t talk about himself as much as he does during his normal rally speeches. Still, he still found time to include a joke about seeking a third presidential term and about World War II\u2019s \u201cgreatest generation.\u201d \u201cThey are the greatest generation,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI hate to admit that, but they are.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump mixed partisan politics with patriotic appeals on Saturday as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, a moment he declared \u201cone of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.\u201d Speaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honored veterans, including several […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":480457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-554790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n