Summer storms in the nation's capital canceled some of what had been planned for the evening as part of the "Salute to America," a celebration on the National Mall to commemorate America's 250th birthday. Despite the rain, President Donald J. Trump still addressed the nation.
"For two and a half centuries, our American republic has stood as the crowning achievement of human history," the president said. "This country is the home of freedom. This is the land of liberty, and this is a flag that's the banner of the most extraordinary, most exceptional, most incredible nation ever to exist on the face of the Earth."
In its 250-year history, Trump said, the United States has made itself a beacon of hope across the globe.
"No people have done more good, shown more courage, made more progress, righted more injustice or achieved more greatness than you, the American people," he said. "For 250 years, the United States of America has been the hope, the promise, the light and the glory among all of the nations of the world."
From the American wilderness, to linking the nation with railroads, digging the Panama Canal and defeating global tyranny in two world wars, the president said, there is nothing Americans cannot do. There is no challenge Americans cannot overcome.
"Over 250 years, the world has seen the great empires, vast kingdoms, mighty nations and terrible tyrants," he said. "They came and they went. But after two and a half centuries, this American republic still stands tall and strong ... this American flag still waves proud and free and beautiful. We have thrived and flourished because our founders were great, our cause was just, our people are brave, our culture is exceptional and our destiny is written by God."
At 250 years old, Trump said, the nation is still young with its best years ahead.
"After 250 years, the spirit of 1776 still lives within us all, it still roars in the hearts of our nation's capital, it still burns in the heart of every patriot, thunders through every city and town and it still lights the entire world with the glow of American liberty," he said. "At 250 years old, we may be the oldest constitutional republic on Earth, but our country is just getting started, because the best is yet to come."
Earlier in the day, Vice President JD Vance participated in the International Naval Review 250, the International Aerial Review and Sail 4th 250 events in New York Harbor, New York City. As part of those events, he visited sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge. Onboard, Vance participated in a reenlistment ceremony for sailors, observed military naval vessels and aircraft from the ship's deck and delivered remarks commemorating America's semiquincentennial.
"Today we celebrate 250 years of America facing the future without fear," Vance said. "We celebrate 250 years of proving what a free people can achieve by the providence of our almighty creator."
The vice president included examples of achievements, from George Washington to James B. Eads and Henry J. Kaiser. But warned that on America's birthday, some Americans chose not to celebrate America's greatness, even on its 250th birthday. Those Americans are wrong, he said.
"You will hear a couple small but loud voices today speak obsessively, not of our national greatness, but of our national imperfections," Vance said. "They will speak of the powerless and the dispossessed, they will tell you that America is just another country where the weak struggle against the strong. And if they acknowledge that there is anything to be proud of in our history, they'll say it's the fact that sometimes the powerless have won a battle."
The vice president said those people do not see America's true greatness.
"What I'd ask you to do, my fellow Americans, on our 250th birthday, is to reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens and reject the two-dimensional view of your country reject that America is a place for zero-sum thinking, because it is not," Vance said. "Our history is one of people carving a great civilization out of the wilderness. Reject the view of your nation that sees only its sins, but not its grace and its greatness. Everything that we have done, everything that we have done as a country, we have done together, not as citizens against each other, but as a common people working toward a common future."
