France 24 is reporting that U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a speech Saturday celebrating 250 years of U.S. independence in Washington. It said Trump hailed America as the "crowning achievement of human history" and claimed the United States was "prouder than ever before" under his presidency, even as he used the event to renew his attack on domestic opponents he branded as communists. The speech, delayed by several hours due to storms, saw Trump largely adhere to a patriotic script. He honored veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, referring to the latter two as examples of the battle against "communists." Trump stated, "Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the word, only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. We're not going to let it happen," France 24 reported. France 24 noted Trump's repeated emphasis on this theme ahead of November's U.S. midterm elections, following primary victories by the Democratic Party's anti-establishment left. It also said Trump boasted of recent military campaigns against Iran and Venezuela, claiming Washington had "wiped out" Tehran's military. The celebrations took place amid a scorching heatwave, with temperatures reaching a record 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius) in Washington. The event concluded with a large fireworks display. France 24 highlighted that Trump's prominent role in the anniversary celebrations underscored the deep divisions of his second term. A Quinnipiac University Poll showed 61 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is not living up to the ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence, the outlet said.
