Serenaded by fireworks and little else, Trump slams the enemy within on US' birthday

On a day meant for unity and celebration, President Donald Trump vowed to “safeguard our values” from enemies within — leftists, looters, agitators, he said — in a Fourth of July speech packed with all grievances and combativeness of his political rallies.

Trump watched paratroopers float to ground in a tribute to America, greeted his audience of front-line medical workers and ors central in responding to coronavirus pandemic, and opened up on those who “slander” him and disrespect country's past.

“We are w in process of defeating radical left, anarchists, agitators, looters, and people who, in many instances, have absolutely clue what y are doing,” he said. "We will never allow an angry mob to tear down our statues, erase our history, indoctrinate our children.

"And we will defend, protect and preserve () American way of life, which began in 1492 when Columbus discovered America.” He did t mention dead from pandemic. Nearly 130,000 are kwn to have died from COVID-19 in U.S.

Even as officials across country pleaded with Americans to curb ir enthusiasm for large Fourth of July crowds, Trump enticed masses with a “special evening” of tribute and fireworks std with new U.S. coronavirus infections on rise.

But crowds wandering National Mall for night's air show and fireworks were strikingly thinner than garing for last year's jammed celebration on Mall.

Many who showed up wore masks, unlike those seated close toger for Trump's South Lawn event, and distancing was easy to do for those scattered across sprawling .

Trump did t hesitate to use country's birthday as an occasion to assail segments of country that do t support him.

Carrying on a me he pounded on a day earlier against backdrop of Mount Rushmore monuments, he went after those who have torn down statues or think some of m, particularly those of Confederate figures, should be removed. Support has been growing among Republicans to remove Confederate memorials.

“Our past is t a burden to be cast away," Trump said.

Outside event but as close to it as y could get, Pat Lee of Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania, gared with two friends, one of m a nurse from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and ne in a mask.

“POTUS said it would go away,” Lee said of pandemic, using an acronym for president of United States. “Masks, I think, are like a hoax.” But she said she wore one inside Trump International Hotel, where she stayed.

By World War II Memorial, National Park Service handed out packets of five white cloth masks to all who wanted m. People were t required to wear m.

Ar nurse, Zippy Watt from Riverside, California, came to see air show and fireworks with her husband and ir two daughters, one of whom lives in Washington. y wore matching American flag face masks even when seated toger on a park bench.

“We chose to wear a mask to protect ourselves and ors," Watt said. She said her family was divided on Trump but she is “more of a Trump supporter. Being from sourn California I see socialist tendencies. I'm tired of paying taxes so ors can stay home.” Pat Lee made trip from rth of Philadelphia after seeing last year's Mall celebration on TV.

She said protests over racial injustice that unfolded near her were so threatening that people in her suburban neighborhood took turns staying up all night and those who didn't own guns stationed bats and shovels in ir gars. Her friend from Pennsylvania, who didn't want to be identified, said she spent more than three hours in line to buy a gun.

“I want people to stop calling us racists,” Lee said. “We're t racists. Just because you love your country, love people in your country, doesn't make you a racist.” Trump's guests on South Lawn were doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers and military members as well as officials from administration, said Judd Deere, deputy White House press secretary. He said event was a tribute to “tremendous cour and spirit” of front-line workers and public in pandemic.

In many parts of country, authorities discourd mass garings for holiday after days that have seen COVID-19 cases grow at a rate t experienced even during deadliest phase of pandemic in spring.

In New York, once epicenter, people were urged to avoid crowds and Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest happened at an undisclosed location without spectators on hand, in advance of evening's televised fireworks spectacular over Empire State Building.

In Philadelphia, mask- and glove-wearing descendants of signers of Declaration of Independence participated in a virtual tapping of famed Liberty Bell on Independence Mall and people were asked to join from afar by clinking glasses, tapping pots or ringing bells.

Yet Trump continued to crave big crowds when it came to his events.

He opened holiday weekend by traveling to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for a fireworks display Friday night near mountain carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and odore Roosevelt. In stark words, he accused protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a “merciless campaign to wipe out our history.”