President Donald Trump has delivered a speech from Mount Rushmore as the country marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, part of the White House-backed Freedom 250 celebrations billed as the biggest birthday party in US history.

Trump spoke beneath the granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, with military tributes, flyovers, and a fireworks display also scheduled at the South Dakota landmark.

“The United States of America is the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history, and it is great to be your president,” Trump told the nation, claiming that “no country has done more good for this world.”

Trump said it was the “core of the patriotic duty of every American” to protect the country’s unique identity from “mortal threats” such as communism.

“There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country, who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success,” Trump said, comparing the threat of communism to those posed by the two world wars and 9/11.

“So, tonight, let us say clearly and proudly what makes Americans so unique and extraordinary. We’re going to give our country its identity back,” Trump said at the conclusion of his 30-minute speech. “You do not have to be born here, but you do have to love what we have built. You must love our country.”

A recent Gallup poll found that only 58% of US adults said they were “extremely” or “very” proud to be American – the lowest level recorded since the pollster began asking the question in 2001. Other polling has suggested that a significant number of Americans do not plan to celebrate July 4 this year, while many doubt the country’s ability to endure another 250 years.

The anniversary has also been overshadowed by disputes over whether the festivities have become too closely tied to Trump personally, rather than serving as a bipartisan national commemoration.

The return of fireworks to Mount Rushmore has prompted environmental and wildfire concerns, as much of the US endures a record heat wave that has disrupted July Fourth events elsewhere. While Mount Rushmore itself is forecast to be cooler, with storms possible, critics have warned about holding a large pyrotechnic display in the Black Hills region amid broader drought and fire-risk concerns.

In Washington, DC, the anniversary celebrations are set to continue with a large ‘Salute to America’ event, military flyovers, and what organizers have described as a record-scale fireworks show.