[Anchor]

In the United States, celebrations for the 250th anniversary of independence are being held across the country today, July 4. President Trump is turning even this national holiday into a massive self-promotional event.

Kim Beom-joo reports.

[Reporter]

The U.S. presidential aircraft appears directly above Mount Rushmore, where the faces of presidents such as Washington and Lincoln are carved.

On the eve of the 250th Independence Day, President Trump chose this site to boast about his achievements.

[Donald Trump/U.S. President: We defeated Venezuela in a day, and we crushed Iran. They are begging for a deal. We gave them a week of vacation for a funeral, and that is because we are kind.]

He then attacked the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, his political rivals, by labeling them as communists and enemies of the United States.

[Donald Trump/U.S. President: You must be loyal to Marx, or you must be loyal to the United States. You can be a communist or a patriot, but you cannot be both at the same time.]

President Trump is scheduled to lead a large-scale commemorative event in the capital, Washington D.C., today.

Meanwhile, critics argue that with the midterm elections four months away, the president is turning Independence Day into his own campaign event.

[Doyle Cook/Protester: We are all patriots, and we love America. But Trump thinks he is the nation. Trump is not the nation.]

Pope Leo XIV also pointed out that the United States must remember it is a nation built by immigrants.

[Leo XIV/Pope: The United States has constantly welcomed immigrants, opening its doors so that they and their children could build the future of America.]

Washington D.C. is expected to see a daytime high of nearly 40°C (104°F) today, making it the hottest Independence Day in history, raising concerns about heat-related illnesses among citizens attending the events.

(Video coverage: Lee Hee-hoon, Video editing: Jung Sung-hoon)