As the United States marked its 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump used a Mount Rushmore address to warn of a “communist threat” from progressive Democrats and vow the deportation of immigrants, drawing a sharp contrast with Pope Leo, who concurrently visited the Italian island of Lampedusa to urge compassion for migrants and condemn hardline border policies.
Speaking on the eve of Independence Day at the granite monument in South Dakota, Trump called on Americans to protect the freedoms envisioned by the country’s founders 250 years ago. He directed his rhetoric at what he described as a communist threat posed by progressive Democrats and “new arrivals” to the country.
“We stand under the memorial to these heroes, a truly incredible group of people, and renew our commitment to being a nation as great, bold, noble, and magnificent as these American giants, and this is not easy, but we will do it,” Trump said.
He added: “By the grace of God, the United States of America is the most successful, greatest, and most wonderful country that has existed in human history, and I am honoured to be your president.”
The speech linked anti-communist rhetoric with an anti-immigrant tone, targeting migrants holding views he deemed antithetical to American values. “There is now a resurgence of the communist danger in our lands, including from new arrivals to our country who espouse ideas completely contrary to our way of life and our great success… we will not allow this to happen,” Trump stated.
According to the NBC network, Trump characterised communism as a “deadly threat to American freedom,” comparing it to the September 11 attacks, and labelled it an “enemy of the Constitution, an enemy of the Fourth of July 1776, and an enemy in general.”
He further asserted that the US would swiftly eliminate communism. “We pledge and swear before everyone that the citizens of the United States of America will eradicate communism quickly… We will deport them quickly and continue building our country to become bigger, better, and stronger than ever. America will never become a communist country!” he said.
Electoral Strategy and the Iran War
Trump tied his warnings to the upcoming November midterm elections, stating that Republicans would only lose if they failed to eliminate the Senate filibuster rule and pass the SAVE America Act, a major piece of electoral legislation. His mention of the bill was met with a standing ovation, as he claimed that taking these two steps would ensure the party would “not lose any elections for a hundred years.”
The focus on progressive gains comes as Americans grapple with stubborn inflation and rising petrol prices following the outbreak of the Iran war. With mounting concerns that the conflict could cost the Republican Party control of at least one chamber of Congress in November, Republican lawmakers have increasingly highlighted recent victories by left-wing Democratic candidates.
Trump noted that four progressive candidates, including three democratic socialists, recently won Democratic primaries in New York City, with further victories in Colorado on Tuesday. Progressive candidates have also secured primary wins in Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Trump branded these electoral successes as “the biggest threat to our country since its founding.”
Pope Leo Appeals for Humanity in Lampedusa
Across the Atlantic, Pope Leo utilised his Saturday visit to Lampedusa to highlight the plight of migrants, urging European leaders to increase assistance for those risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The American-born pontiff had previously characterised Trump’s hardline immigration policies as “inhumane” earlier this year.
Noting that his visit coincided with his native country’s 250th anniversary, the Pope called on the world to become “more humane” and assist those fleeing war and poverty.
“Those who lost their lives in this sea are victims of decisions made and decisions not made,” Pope Leo said.
He urged Europe to address the migration issue “comprehensively by integrating immediate relief efforts into a long-term strategic plan capable of receiving, protecting, supporting, and integrating migrants.” He also appealed to European leaders to improve conditions in the migrants’ countries of origin to reduce the necessity of their departure.
Data obtained by Reuters from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) underscores the scale of the crisis. Since the beginning of the year, 14,464 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea. More than half of these arrivals—surpassing 7,000 individuals—landed on Lampedusa, outnumbering the island’s native population of approximately 6,000.
Furthermore, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,400 people, including 28 children, have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year.
