US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday, 4 July delivered a sweeping address aboard the USS Kearsarge in New York Harbor, marking the 250th anniversary of the US Navy and the nation's founding. Speaking to sailors, Marines, Coast Guard personnel, veterans, Gold Star families, and representatives from more than 50 countries, Vance framed the occasion as a moment to reaffirm American unity and shared national identity.

Key Remarks from the Address

Vance opened by anchoring his speech in the founding moment of the republic, recalling General George Washington reading the Declaration of Independence to his troops in 1776 as British forces prepared to attack New York. He quoted the Declaration's opening lines directly: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'

'Even today, 250 years later, these words command tremendous power over us as Americans,' Vance said.

Three Figures, One American Spirit

Throughout the speech, Vance highlighted three historical figures he described as embodying the American character: George Washington, civil engineer James Buchanan Eads, and wartime industrialist Henry Kaiser. He praised Eads for persisting through repeated setbacks to build engineering landmarks, quoting him as saying, 'Yes, I can because I'm an American and I'm going to do it myself.' Vance credited Kaiser with dramatically scaling American shipbuilding capacity during the Second World War and treating workers as national partners. 'He saw them as fellow citizens who could build amazing things,' Vance said.

International Participation and Naval Tribute

Vance acknowledged the presence of foreign delegations, noting that over 50 countries sent fighters or naval vessels to honour the occasion. 'We are grateful for our friends, grateful for our allies on this special anniversary,' he said. He also praised the crew of the USS Kearsarge for rebuilding the ceremony site overnight after severe weather struck the previous evening. 'Everything that you see today was destroyed last night in a storm, but these great sailors rebuilt it in 12 hours,' he told viewers watching on television.

A Pushback Against National Self-Criticism

Vance used a portion of his address to directly challenge what he described as a narrow, fault-focused reading of American history. 'You will hear a couple of small but loud voices today speak obsessively not of our national greatness but of our national imperfections,' he said, adding: 'They're wrong.' He urged Americans to 'reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens' and to 'reject the view of your nation that sees only its sins but not its grace and its greatness.' The remarks were widely read as a pointed response to progressive critiques of American history, though Vance did not name any individual or group.

America250 Observances

The event formed part of the broader America250 programme — a year-long series of national observances marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Vance closed his address with a call to action: 'All of us will need to do our part to create the next 250 years of American greatness. I'm proud of you. Happy birthday, and happy birthday to our great nation. Today, my friends, we celebrate, and tomorrow we get back to work.'