US President Donald Trump warned in a speech at Mount Rushmore on the eve of the 250th anniversary of American independence, yesterday (Friday), of what he described as a new threat to his country's identity from 'bigots and extremists' within.

In his speech at the base of the famous monument featuring giant carvings of four of his predecessors, Trump praised what is commonly called the 'American Dream,' lauding the former presidents, but added: 'As we approach this great anniversary, we see our American identity coming under renewed attack,' and continued: 'After a generation of fighting and winning the Cold War against the communist threat, there is now a return of the communist threat on our soil.'

US President Donald Trump delivered a speech during a celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota (Reuters)

The US president has been highlighting this idea in recent weeks, as left-leaning figures within the Democratic Party have achieved a wave of victories in primary elections, according to Agence France-Presse.

Trump's recent positions have focused on viewing the rise of the left ahead of the midterm elections in November as an attack by 'communists' posing a major 'threat' to the United States.

'An undeniable attempt'

Trump said yesterday (Friday): 'In recent years, there has been an undeniable attempt to change this exceptional character, an attempt to uproot the American spirit from us, and to separate us from our history.'

Although his tone toward immigrants was not as harsh as in some of his previous speeches, it was clear that he meant them when he said: 'You don't have to be born here, but you have to love what we have built.'

Analysts believe that Trump's choice of Mount Rushmore as the venue for his speech shows that he sees himself as one of the great leaders in US history.

President Donald Trump waves to the crowd after delivering a speech at a campaign rally at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (AFP)

Republican lawmakers supportive of the US president have introduced a bill to carve his face into the mountain rock, to be immortalized alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Today, Saturday, Trump is organizing a mass rally at the National Mall in Washington, featuring a flyover of military aircraft, in addition to what he described as the largest fireworks display in the world.

'I can do anything'

But Trump's approval ratings are near all-time lows, particularly due to the war with Iran and rising living costs in the United States.

In a podcast interview broadcast Friday conducted by Usha Vance, wife of his running mate JD Vance, Trump said: 'We have a great country, but it stands at a crossroads...'

The events celebrating the 250th anniversary of independence, organized by a group linked to Trump, saw modest attendance.

Fireworks erupted after President Donald Trump delivered a speech at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (AP)

Sarcastic comments spread after images circulated of exhibition halls in the capital, set up for the independence celebration, empty of visitors. The extreme heat wave also does not help visitor turnout, but Trump said Wednesday: 'On July 4th, the temperature will be about 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41°C), and I will go and give a very long speech, just to prove I can do anything.'

'The American Dream'

While the United States celebrates 250 years of a history full of achievements and tragedies, slavery and freedom, civil war and two world wars, polls show that Americans are pessimistic about the continued realization of the dream that anyone can succeed in the United States, where opportunities are available to those who work and strive.

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

Fireworks over Mount Rushmore during a celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence in Keystone, South Dakota (Reuters)

Opinions are divided on this issue. While a majority of Republicans believe the principles are applied, most Democrats do not.

Amy Kimara, a special education teacher, told AFP in Los Angeles: 'The Fourth of July is really an occasion to celebrate freedom, but honestly, in this political atmosphere, it hasn't generated the same level of excitement for me in the past few years.'

Trump has increasingly used the 250th anniversary celebrations as a platform to rally political support for Republicans, and for himself, according to an AFP report.

Republicans fear that Trump's declining popularity could cost them their majority in Congress in the midterm elections, which could pave the way for the president to face impeachment proceedings for the third time, a historic first. But for many Americans, the occasion remains celebratory.

Matt Jarvis, a 55-year-old businessman from Los Angeles, said: 'I think it has become politicized, but that doesn't change the fact that the Fourth of July is a great holiday for all of us.'

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