President Trump used his Fourth of July address on the National Mall to air grievances about his legal troubles, suggesting he was denied equal justice under the law—a principle he praised in the Constitution.
Speaking at the “Salute to America” event, Trump called the Constitution “the most righteous political document ever conceived.” He then listed American freedoms, including “equal justice under the law,” before adding: “Although I wasn’t treated that well, but we won’t get into that.”
The remark was a clear reference to his felony conviction in the New York hush money case and other legal battles that have shadowed his career. Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, making him the first former president to be a convicted felon.
Other cases—including those related to election interference in Georgia and the handling of classified documents—were dismissed. Trump is appealing the hush money conviction, insisting he is “an innocent man who has been horribly treated” and calling for the prosecutors to face criminal repercussions.
During the speech, Trump also made a veiled reference to his baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Discussing his administration’s military actions, he said, “We rebuilt our military in my first term… Actually, I should say third term, but I won’t do that, because I don’t want any controversy.” The comment fueled speculation about his ambitions beyond the two-term limit.
The address, which resembled a State of the Union speech, was used to promote legislative priorities like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. Trump also attacked democratic socialist candidates, comparing their politics to a “cancer” that must be “cut out fast.”
The event was briefly disrupted by a severe thunderstorm warning, forcing an evacuation of the adjacent Great American State Fair. Crowds returned to hear Trump speak and watch the fireworks.
Trump’s appearance capped a day of 250th anniversary celebrations, with heightened security on the National Mall. The speech comes as Republicans shift focus back to Trump’s policy agenda after the anniversary push.
