U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a Fourth of July speech on the National Mall that extolled the U.S. military and the American people and put himself at the center of the Independence Day celebration.
"We celebrate our history, our people, and the heroes who proudly defend our flag — the brave men and women of the United States military," Trump said on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday, flanked by American flags. "We are part of one of the greatest stories ever told — the story of America."
Trump recalled key developments in American history, including the country's founding, exploration of the west, women's suffrage and the civil rights movement.