American identity under ‘renewed attack,’ Trump says

US President Donald Trump on Friday lashed out at what he called a fresh threat against the country’s identity, taking aim at domestic “radicals and extremists” on the eve of the US’ 250th birthday. In a speech dripping with patriotism, Trump lauded American exceptionalism and praised its past leaders, speaking at Mount Rushmore with its giant carved heads of four of his legendary predecessors. However, he added at the foot of the iconic monument: “As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack.” Photo: Reuters He charged that there was “a resurgence of the communist menace in our land.” It is a theme that Trump has repeatedly hammered home in the past few weeks, as the anti-establishment left of the Democratic Party carried a surge of US primary victories. The US president has cast the rise of the left ahead of November’s midterm elections that “communists” are on the rampage, posing a major “threat” to the country. “In recent years there’s been an undeniable attempt to change this exceptional character, to beat the American spirit out of us, alienate us from our history,” he said on Friday. While his language fell short of the more violent anti-immigrant rhetoric he has regularly wielded in past speeches, the underlying message was clear enough. “You do not have to be born here, but you do have to love what we have built,” he said. The location of Trump’s speech — a landmark upon which many suspect he would like to see his own face carved into rock — strikes a fitting image for a president who views himself as being one of the greats. Trump’s supporters have even introduced legislation to have his likeness chiseled beside those of former US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. At every stage, the 80-year-old Republican has sought to turn the US’ big anniversary into a celebration of himself. Yesterday after press time, Trump was to hold a campaign-style political rally on the National Mall in Washington, along with flyovers by military jets and what he has billed as the world’s biggest fireworks display. For Trump — the billionaire former reality TV star who became the consummate political showman — taking center stage is in his blood. However, the US under Trump is deeply divided at what should be a time of national unity. Trump’s approval ratings are near historic lows, fueled largely by the war in Iran and the skyrocketing cost of living. His Democratic opponents have castigated him over his immigration policies, family’s growing wealth and attempts to expand presidential power. COUNTER: The government should put forward a more proactive exchange policy for the youth and encourage them to engage with the wider world, the source said Beijing is trying to entice young Taiwanese to attend the Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum in Guangdong Province, China, by offering to cover all their expenses except round-trip airfare, an official said yesterday. “The cheapest things are the most expensive,” an official familiar with China’s “united front” work said, adding that such tours typically include visits to “red propaganda bases.” “These kinds of united front trips only end up bringing back a lot of falsehoods,” said the official, who wished to remain anonymous. The forum, which began on Saturday last week, ends today. China is offering an all-expense paid trip to Taiwanese participants aged BUDGET HICCUP: While the NCSIST said part of the system is ready for deployment, opposition lawmakers removed the project’s funding during its legislative review Taiwan’s integrated air defense intelligence system is on track to be completed by the end of the year, and, if additional funding is approved, the military aims to deploy it next year, a military source said. The first phase of a next-generation, domestically developed regional air defense system combines the Huanzhan Project (寰展計畫), which integrates air defense intelligence across the armed forces, and the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s (NCSIST) Chiang Kung (強弓, “Strong Bow”) missile defense program, the source said on Saturday. The Huanzhan Project would establish an automated joint command-and-control network linking the army, navy and air force, replacing ONGOING PROBE: Prosecutors on Monday raided the offices and residences of six people suspected to be involved in the smuggling of high-end AI chips to China Keelung prosecutors yesterday detained three executives from technology firms over the alleged smuggling of NT$700 million (US$21.99 million) of advanced Nvidia Corp chips to China, Hong Kong and Macau. The Keelung District Court late last night approved the prosecutors’ request to detain an Albatron Technology Co (青雲科技) vice president surnamed Lu (呂), and managers from Super Micro Computer Inc’s Taiwan branch surnamed Wang (王) and Lin (林). Investigators on Monday raided 12 sites as part of the investigation, including the homes of six people and the offices of the companies they worked for — Albatron, Chief Telecom Inc (是方電訊) and Super Micro, DEFENDING TAIWAN: The government would work with like-minded countries to deepen international engagement and counter cross-border repression, Lai said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said that “Taiwan will not accept ‘red terror,’” as he outlined countermeasures against China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. The law, passed by the Chinese National People’s Congress in March and which went into effect yesterday, requires all Chinese citizens to uphold national unification. Critics in Taiwan have said it aims to strengthen the identification of Taiwanese as members of the “Chinese nation.” It also states that people or organizations, inside or outside China, who undermine ethnic unity or promote ethnic division can be held legally liable, without clearly identifying what kind of conduct falls under