Vance blasts US critics on America's 250th birthday

Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, on Saturday lashed out at those people criticizing “the imperfections of America” during his long July 4 speech from the deck of an amphibious assault ship in New York.

Vance’s speech was delivered as several tall ships representing more than two dozen countries arrived in New York Harbor in order to mark the 250th year of signing of Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

“Today you will hear a few but loud voices obsessively not about our national greatness, but about our national imperfections,” Vance remarked from the deck of USS Kearsarge.

“They will tell you about the sins of America with the fury and zeal of a brimstone preacher but without any of the grace and forgiveness that is an essential part of the Christian faith,” Vance added, pointing out that such critics have failed to understand “the spirit of America.”'

While a flotilla of tall ships sailed past behind him, he called upon Americans to “reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens and reject the two-dimensional view of your country”.

Like US President Donald Trump, who used even harsher rhetoric against “radicals and extremists”, which endanger America’s identity and said that “there is a resurgence of the communist menace in our land”, on Friday, Vance’s remarks showed that the big event in American history is happening amid deep political polarisation – but not without cause for celebration.

Various types of aircraft, such as the Blue Angels, which is the flight demonstration team of the US Navy, performed an air show over New York Harbour, drawing red, white and blue trails in the sky.

But hot weather in the east of the USA threatened to undermine July Fourth festivities over the weekend. The heat index in New York City, which is the perceived temperature with the effect of humidity taken into account, hit 41°C in midday.