This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
On July 4, 2020, as the United States celebrated its Independence Day, President Donald Trump used the occasion to slam his political rivals, particularly China, which he referred to as 'radical left.'
The celebrations were marred by the twin crises of the coronavirus pandemic and the protests against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by the police.
Trump took the opportunity to fault his political opponents and China for the ongoing global crisis, saying, 'We are now in the process of defeating the radical left, the Marxists, the anarchists, the agitators, the looters, and people who in many instances have absolutely no clue what they are doing.'
He also vowed to 'defend, protect and preserve [the] American way of life, which began in 1492 when Columbus discovered America.'
Trump assured Americans that they were close to victory, saying, 'We are on the way to a tremendous victory.'
He also restated his claim that China is responsible for the novel coronavirus, saying, 'China's secrecy, deceptions, and cover-up allowed it to spread all over the world, 189 countries, and China must be held fully accountable.'
Trump also targeted 'those in the media who falsely and consistently label their opponents as racists,' saying, 'The more you lie, the more you slander, the more you try to demean and divide, the more we will work hard to tell the truth, and we will win.'
