US President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to defeat the “radical Left”, in an Independence Day speech at the White House that condemned recent protests against monuments to historical figures as attempts to destroy the United States.
Mr Trump claimed without evidence that 99 per cent of coronavirus cases in the United States were “totally harmless”.
In fact, many states marked a record number of new Covid-19 cases. In Texas alone, 7,890 patients were hospitalised after 238 new admissions over the past 24 hours.
Mr Trump, who has faced criticism over his handling of the pandemic, said China must be “held accountable” for failing to contain the disease.
The administration held a fireworks display over the National Mall as night fell after Mr Trump’s speech, despite Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser’s warnings that the mass spectator event would defy health officials’ guidance during the pandemic.
Just steps from where Mr Trump spoke, peaceful protesters marched down blocked-off streets around the White House, Black Lives Matter Plaza and the Lincoln Memorial.
They were confronted by counter-protesters chanting, “USA! USA!” but there were no reports of violence.
Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK’s best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
