President Trump wows world with Salute to America speech in stormy DC, colossal fireworks follow; Historians ask: Did George Washington convert to Catholicism on his deathbed?; Pope Leo marks Fourth of July with historic visit to US ambassador’s residence in Rome; Mamdani trashes US in speech on 250th anniversary, Elon Musk pushes back, Bp. Barron calls it ‘appalling’; Federalist contributor argues Democratic socialists weaponize envy to destroy American families; Victor Davis Hanson blames America’s turn toward Marxism on higher education; Pope Leo prays for victims of Venezuela earthquake; Catholics celebrate the feast of St. Maria Goretti; and more —
President Trump’s Salute to America 250 speech at National Mall in Washington, DC, July 4th
“As we can see here tonight, after 250 years, the spirit of 1776 still lives within us all. It still burns in the heart of every patriot, thunders through every city and town, and still lights the entire world with the glow of American liberty.”
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Excerpt of Trump’s speech highlighted by Patriot Scott Presler
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America celebrates with colossal fireworks show in DC
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Rainy weather interrupted but did NOT cancel Salute to America celebration
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Donald Trump delivers historic 250th anniversary speech at Mount Rushmore, crowd goes chants ‘USA’ (July 3, 2026)
‘America’s destiny is in our sights. America’s heroes are embedded in our hearts. America’s future is in our hands. And ladies and gentlemen: the best is yet to come.‘
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LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON THE 250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.
For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have worked together to carry these principles forward — through sacrifice, service, innovation and civic participation. This anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also to reflect upon the responsibilities that the sons and daughters of this country bear to one another, and to the generations who will inherit the nation that is being shaped today.
Among the most cherished of these principles is religious freedom — the right of every person to worship according to conscience and to practice their faith openly, without coercion or fear. In marking this anniversary, it is important to recognize that freedom of religion has long been central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people. …
Congratulations on this extraordinary national anniversary. May the spirit of 1776 continue to inspire hope and unity as the United States of America moves into the future. In assuring all of you of my prayers in your renewed efforts to strengthen the nation in the principles that guided its Founding Fathers, I entrust you to the intercession of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of this country, that she will continue to watch over America and protect all who dwell therein.
Read more at The Holy See
Pope Leo XIV marks Fourth of July with historic visit to US ambassador’s residence in Rome
The Holy Father’s visit was unscheduled and believed to be unprecedented as the first time a pope visited the residence of a foreign ambassador.
Pope Leo XIV marked the evening of July 4 with an extraordinary and historic gesture of friendship toward the U.S., joining the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch and his family for a celebratory Independence Day dinner at the ambassador’s residence in Rome.
The dinner took place only hours after the Holy Father visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, long known as one of Europe’s most visible points of arrival for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. The timing gave the day unusual symbolic weight: the first American pope spent the morning drawing attention to the dignity of migrants and the evening honoring the country of his birth as it celebrated 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. …
In a touching moment, Burch noted, they closed the evening singing God bless America together.
The first American pope may not have visited the land of his birth for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Yet, on the evening of July 4, he came as close as he could to the U.S. in hills of Rome, where he made it unmistakably clear that America remains close to his heart.
Read more at Zeale
Pictures of Pope Leo’s visit with Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch
See @USinHolySee
American commentator spotlights decay and decline of Pope Leo’s childhood home in Chicago
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Did George Washington Convert to Catholicism on his Deathbed?
Watch at EWTN News and EWTN; watch also George Washington Deathbed Conversion?
Did you know America is named after a Catholic mapmaker?
See @Sachinettiyil
Mamdani trashes US on 250th anniversary, Elon Musk nukes the NYC mayor
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Bishop Barron rebukes Mamdani’s speech, calls it ‘appalling’
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Victor Davis Hanson says Higher Education accounts for turn toward Marxism
See @gatewaypundit
Democratic Socialists Who Failed At Life Are Weaponizing Envy To Destroy American Families by Alvin Lui
Let’s stop letting perpetually miserable people define the moral terms of our lives. It’s time to make generational ambition honorable again.
The recent wave of primary victories by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates has the media celebrating a web of grassroots populism and a supposed “working-class uprising.” But look past the revolutionary rhetoric, and you’ll find a much more sinister reality: Modern American socialism isn’t being driven by the proletariat; it is being bankrolled by a cabal of deep-pocketed, ultra-wealthy leftists.
Historically, socialism has never been about uplifting the poor; it is an insider game designed to consolidate state control while shielding the wealth of the ruling class and ransacking the middle class along the way. To pave the way for this scam, these trust-fund radicals must first destroy the independent American family.
To do that, they have weaponized a nasty little phrase in our modern, grievance-obsessed culture. Whenever a person achieves success, buys a home, or launches a business, the bitter arbiters of online misery waste no time throwing an insult disguised as an observation: “You’re just doing well because your parents had money to help you.”
It is delivered with a sneer, intended to induce a deep, paralyzing sense of shame. The implication is clear: If your parents sacrificed, saved, and built something of value so that your starting line in life was a few paces ahead of theirs, your achievements are somehow illegitimate.
Read more at The Federalist; read ‘America’s Anti-American Public Schools Are Destroying What The Declaration Gave Us’ by Jeremy S. Adams also at The Federalist
Arizona lawmaker wants to investigate America 250 for involving Christianity should Dems take back the House
See @RNCResearch; read more at WorldNetDaily
Recalling 1st Mass in Florida and American saints, Pope praises USA’s Eucharistic heritage
Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to the “strong, though largely unknown, Eucharistic heritage of the United States of America” in a video message for the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage began in Florida on May 24 and concluded in Philadelphia on July 5.
“Your pilgrimage began in Saint Augustine, Florida, where on September 8, 1565, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Spanish explorers and settlers upon their arrival, followed by a feast shared with the local Seloy tribe,” Pope Leo said. “This historical event, accompanied by many others, attests to the strong, though largely unknown, Eucharistic heritage of the United States of America.”
“This heritage, far from being forgotten, must continue to serve as source of both renewal and unity,” the Pope continued. As he recalled the saints of the United States, the Pope said that “the intense apostolic activity of these holy men and women, and others like them, would not have been possible without the strength they drew daily from moments of silent prayer before the tabernacle.”
“As this pilgrimage comes to an end, I encourage you to place your lives under God’s loving providence as you return to your homes, as well as to cultivate a strong Eucharistic life among your families, friends and communities,” the Pontiff concluded. “Confident that the Eucharistic Pilgrimage will bear abundant fruits in the United States of America, I entrust all of you to the maternal intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.”
Read at Catholic Culture
The Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 begins with these words: “In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity.”
Read @RepRileyMoore; read ‘Treaty of Paris (1783): How America Won Independence and Ended the Revolutionary War’ at Civics for Life
Trump Delivers a Hilarious America 250 Storytime With Second Lady Usha Vance
President Donald Trump has had a packed schedule for America 250 and the Fourth of July over the last few days.
He went to Mount Rushmore to ring in the start of the weekend with a rousing speech honoring our history and the men whose faces were carved there, while also delivering a warning about the threat that Communism poses. Then he was back in Washington for all the events in the capital on Saturday.
But, somehow, he also managed to squeeze in a little time for the Independence Day story time with Second Lady Usha Vance, as our sister site Townhall reported.
Trump used a book called “Presidents Play,” which covered the various ways in which the presidents relaxed from such a stressful job. But Trump, being Trump, ad-libbed funny stuff as he spoke about the presidents.
Usha asked him if he had any time to read books with all he has to do. His answer was funny. …
Read more at RedState; see also ‘Usha has a very special guest on her podcast today’ @JDVance
America must not become a land of hate – essay by Msgr. Charles Fink
‘If people want something better than the USA as it currently exists, there are plenty of ways to work towards that goal, but trash talking isn’t one of them. Neither is electing those who support ideas – like Communism – that have been tried and have failed, every time, throughout history.‘
See @catholicthing
Pope Leo prays for victims of Venezuela earthquake
Read @VaticanNews
Today is the Feast Day of St. Maria Goretti
See @father_rmv
