Trump heads for Mount Rushmore as US turns 250 ⁠49%

By Danny KEMP⁠0%

7/2/2026, 10:54:38 PM

BS Summary: This article contains 26 faulty reasoning types, including Biased Writer Voice, Pessimism Bias, and Anecdotal, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 52.5% saturation with 363 hits. Analysis detected 1,575 faulty-reasoning hits from 692 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 49.5% and a BS Rank of ⁠49% (11,323 of 21,887 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 51.70% of the article peer group.

President Donald Trump kicks off America's 250th birthday weekend on Friday with a trip to a landmark upon which many suspect he would like to see his own face carved in rock -- Mount Rushmore. 
On the eve of Independence Day, Trump will give a speech beneath the giant granite heads of four of his legendary predecessors at the national monument in South Dakota. 
It's a fitting image for a president who views himself as being one of the greats himself, and who has at every stage tried to turn the United States' big anniversary into a celebration of himself. 
Republican Trump's supporters have even introduced legislation to have his likeness chiseled beside those of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. 
On July 4 itself, Trump will hold a huge campaign-style political rally on the National Mall in the capital Washington, along with flyovers by military jets and what he has billed as the world's biggest fireworks display. 
For Trump -- the billionaire former reality TV star who became the consummate political showman -- taking center stage is in his blood. 
"Trump likes the spotlight, and I think he's trying to take the spotlight," Peter Loge, director of George Washington University's School of Media, told AFP. 
- 'Really long speech' - 
But America under Trump is deeply divided at what should be a time of national unity. 
Trump's approval ratings are near historic lows, fueled largely by the war in Iran and the cost of living. 
His Democratic opponents have castigated him over his immigration policies, family wealth and attempts to extend presidential power. 
His attempts to stamp his political brand on America's 250th anniversary have, meanwhile, not always gone to plan. 
A Trump-linked organization called Freedom 250 has taken control of many of the festivities from the bipartisan America250 group, leading many people to stay away from key events. 
A "Great American State Fair" in the capital designed as a celebration of the country's birthday has drawn sparse crowds and widespread mockery for its empty booths. 
In June, Trump held a widely criticized Ultimate Fighting Championship cage fight on the White House lawn during which one fighter shouted the false claim that former first lady Michelle Obama "is a man." 
A dangerous heat wave is even expected to sweep across Washington and much of the US throughout the anniversary weekend, when several football World Cup knockout matches are also being played. 
"On July 4 it's going to be approximately 107 degrees (41C) out, and I'm going to go and I'm going to make a really long speech -- just to show that I can do anything," Trump said on Wednesday. 
- 'Great holiday' - 
The mood largely reflects the country's own. 
"The Fourth of July really is a moment of freedom, but I have to be honest, in these political times, it hasn't been as exciting to me over the last few years," Amy Kimaara, a 49-year-old special education teacher wearing a Team USA jersey and a star-spangled banner knot to tie her ponytail, told AFP in Los Angeles. 
As it marks two-and-a-half centuries of triumphs and tragedies, slavery and freedom, civil war and world wars, surveys show the nation is pessimistic about the chances of realizing the "American Dream." 
A Quinnipiac University Poll on Thursday showed 61 percent of Americans thought the US was not living up to the ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence -- though even opinion on that was divided, with most Republicans thinking it did, and most Democrats thinking it didn't. 
Increasingly, Trump is using the 250th anniversary celebrations as a platform to rally political support for Republicans -- and himself -- ahead of crucial US midterm elections in November. 
Republicans fear Trump's unpopularity could cost them control of Congress -- which would likely leave Trump facing a record third impeachment. 
But for other Americans, it's still a time to celebrate. 
"I think it's been politicized, but that doesn't change that the Fourth of July is a great holiday for all of us," said Matt Jarvis, 55, an entrepreneur from Los Angeles. 
burs-dk/msp/hol 
Article reasoning-pattern comparisonThis article: 8.8%Danny KEMP: 2.2%Associated Press: 2.2%Confirmation Bias8.8%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.7%Associated Press: 1.3%Anchoring Bias0.0%This article: 11.8%Danny KEMP: 3.3%Associated Press: 2.9%Availability Heuristic11.8%This article: 5.5%Danny KEMP: 0.5%Associated Press: 0.8%Representativeness Heuristic5.5%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.4%Hindsight Bias0.0%This article: 3.3%Danny KEMP: 6.8%Associated Press: 1.4%Overconfidence Bias3.3%This article: 1.3%Danny KEMP: 13.0%Associated Press: 5.3%Framing Effect1.3%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.3%Associated Press: 0.8%Loss Aversion0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.5%Associated Press: 0.5%Status Quo Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.1%Sunk Cost Effect0.0%This article: 4.5%Danny KEMP: 5.3%Associated Press: 1.7%Optimism Bias4.5%This article: 19.7%Danny KEMP: 3.1%Associated Press: 1.3%Pessimism Bias19.7%This article: 52.5%Danny KEMP: 22.7%Associated Press: 7.3%Negativity Bias52.5%This article: 9.8%Danny KEMP: 1.4%Associated Press: 1.6%Self-Serving Bias9.8%This article: 8.5%Danny KEMP: 3.3%Associated Press: 0.7%Fundamental Attribution Error8.5%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.5%Associated Press: 0.1%Actor-Observer Bias0.0%This article: 2.6%Danny KEMP: 0.3%Associated Press: 0.8%In-Group Bias2.6%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.9%Associated Press: 0.2%Out-Group Homogeneity Bias0.0%This article: 3.3%Danny KEMP: 3.6%Associated Press: 3.8%Halo Effect3.3%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 1.2%Associated Press: 0.2%Horn Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.0%Dunning-Kruger Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 2.6%Associated Press: 1.4%Recency Bias0.0%This article: 3.5%Danny KEMP: 0.8%Associated Press: 0.4%Primacy Effect3.5%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.0%Blind-Spot Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 3.0%Associated Press: 0.7%Ad Hominem0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.3%Associated Press: 0.1%Straw Man0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 3.4%Associated Press: 4.1%Appeal to Authority0.0%This article: 2.3%Danny KEMP: 2.0%Associated Press: 1.0%False Dilemma2.3%This article: 3.0%Danny KEMP: 0.5%Associated Press: 0.3%Slippery Slope3.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.1%Circular Reasoning0.0%This article: 6.5%Danny KEMP: 4.8%Associated Press: 3.3%Hasty Generalization6.5%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.2%Associated Press: 0.3%Red Herring0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.1%Associated Press: 0.7%Bandwagon0.0%This article: 2.6%Danny KEMP: 4.4%Associated Press: 4.6%Appeal to Emotion2.6%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.6%Associated Press: 0.6%Begging the Question0.0%This article: 11.0%Danny KEMP: 3.3%Associated Press: 1.8%Post Hoc (False Cause)11.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.4%Associated Press: 0.1%Tu Quoque0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.6%Associated Press: 0.5%Burden of Proof0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.1%Appeal to Nature0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.2%Composition/Division0.0%This article: 13.3%Danny KEMP: 1.2%Associated Press: 1.8%Anecdotal13.3%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.1%No True Scotsman0.0%This article: 6.1%Danny KEMP: 1.2%Associated Press: 1.6%Ambiguity (Equivocation)6.1%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.0%Gambler’s Fallacy0.0%This article: 1.4%Danny KEMP: 0.1%Associated Press: 0.1%Middle Ground1.4%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.1%Personal Incredulity0.0%This article: 5.6%Danny KEMP: 0.3%Associated Press: 0.2%Special Pleading5.6%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 0.1%Genetic Fallacy0.0%This article: 5.6%Danny KEMP: 2.1%Associated Press: 2.0%Unattributed Quote5.6%This article: 3.6%Danny KEMP: 2.0%Associated Press: 1.4%Quote-first Misdirection3.6%This article: 27.2%Danny KEMP: 15.4%Associated Press: 6.0%Biased Writer Voice27.2%This article: 4.2%Danny KEMP: 0.5%Associated Press: 1.8%Indoctrination4.2%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.9%Associated Press: 0.5%Politically Left Leaning Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.3%Associated Press: 0.2%Politically Right Leaning Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Danny KEMP: 0.0%Associated Press: 3.6%Attempt to Sell a Product or S…0.0%

692 words analyzed.

Speakers

4speakers22%attributed speech539writer words
Voice mapSelect a segment to jump to its words
Writer's voice • 9 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 35 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 29 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 36 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 24 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 37 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 23 words • 100.0% coveragePeter Loge • 25 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 5 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 16 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 19 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 18 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 18 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 28 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 27 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 34 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 31 words • 0.0% coverageTrump • 39 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 4 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 7 words • 0.0% coverageAmy Kimaara • 58 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 31 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 47 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 29 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 21 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 10 words • 0.0% coverageMatt Jarvis • 31 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 1 words • 0.0% coverage
Selected voice

Trump

100%flagged-word coverage
39 attributed words25% of attributed speech86% writer coverage
0%50.0%100.0%Unattributed Quote+100.0 ptsWriter: 0.0%Trump: 100.0%100.0%Biased Writer Voice-34.9 ptsWriter: 34.9%Trump: 0.0%0.0%Indoctrination-5.4 ptsWriter: 5.4%Trump: 0.0%0.0%

Attribution is sentence-level. Pattern percentages are calculated only from words assigned to that voice.

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Analysis

Hover over highlighted words in the article to view the associated bias or fallacy analysis.