OAN Staff Addie Davis
11:20 AM – Monday, July 6, 2026
Vice President JD Vance celebrated American achievement in his July 4th speech in New York Harbor, condemning communism as opposed to the American values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.
As part of the ongoing Independence Day celebrations, the Sail4th 250 celebrations brought tall ships to the harbor from around the globe to mark the momentous occasion.
“We will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world, creating a majestic nautical spectacle and an unforgettable once-in-a generation event on land, sea, and air,” the event site stated.
Speaking aboard the USS Kearsarge, Vance recognized 250 years of American independence, relating stories of American industrial leaders and celebrating the American spirit.
“Facing the future without fear, we celebrate 250 years of proving what a free people can achieve by the providence of our Almighty Creator,” the vice president stated.
Vance claimed that while the United States became “the most powerful industrial powerhouse in the history of humanity,” the growth of industry in other nations led to “dispossession before it did prosperity” and ultimately opened the door to communism.
“In the Old World, the one our ancestors left behind, the Industrial Revolution threw society into chaos, and into that chaos rushed vacuums and ideologies that answered the dignity of man with labor camps and killing fields,” the vice president said.
“Where the Old World led to communism and fascism, the Americans recognized that at root, they were a denial of everything that Washington and Jefferson had read to his men 250 years ago,” he added.
Besides merely rejecting an ideology, Vance purported that the U.S. needed to defeat opposing worldviews through industry.
“The free world needed to win, but in order for the free world to beat communism and fascism, it had to outproduce them,” he continued.
As Americans across the country celebrated America’s 250th anniversary, regardless of political affiliation, Vance noted that there existed a small number of critics who opted to focus on the failings of the country instead of its accomplishments.
“You will hear a couple small but loud voices today speak obsessively, not of our national greatness, but of our national imperfections,” he said.
“They’ll talk about America’s sins with the anger and zeal of a brimstone preacher, but without any of the grace or forgiveness that must be present in the Christian faith,” he continued.
He asserted that these critics failed to grasp the core character of the U.S., as well as the duality of human power and frailty.
“These people misunderstand the essence of America,” Vance said. “They misunderstand that we all have moments of great power despite those very real imperfections.”
Highlighting American innovation, Vance noted that the credit belongs to workers and contributors at every level.
“All of us have a part. All of us had our part, our role to play in creating 250 years of a proud, American story. And all of us will need to do our part to create the next 250 years of American greatness,” he said.
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