The US is celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence on Saturday against a backdrop of political polarisation and a brutal heatwave that's sweeping across parts of the nation.
US President Donald Trump is set to take a central role in the festivities and is scheduled to speak on the National Mall in Washington ahead of a large fireworks display.
As part of the buildup to the day, the president visited Mount Rushmore on Friday, where he delivered a speech warning of the threat of communism and calling on Americans to protect their freedoms.
"Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty," Trump said during his speech. "It is the greatest threat to our country".
"There has never been anything like us anywhere on earth. And we are not going to let anyone take that away," he added.
