Speaking at a Mount Rushmore ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, former President Donald Trump sharply criticized communist ideology as the nation’s most serious danger, more significant than prior conflicts like the world wars or the September 11 attacks. During his remarks, which also highlighted American accomplishments and his administration’s economic record, Trump asserted that communism had caused 100 million deaths during the previous century. The event, organized alongside the White House-affiliated Freedom 250 group, drew figures such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota’s governor, the interior secretary, and Florida’s governor. Trump’s statements on communism follow earlier actions, including a 2025 proclamation designating Anti-Communism Week. The speech arrives amid deep political divisions, with a recent Gallup poll indicating most Americans believe the nation’s best era has passed.