Vice President JD Vance targeted the “loud voices” who continually drag America down — as he called for unity over divisive rhetoric a day after NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivered a tone-deaf, anti-US screed.
“Everything that we have done as a country, we have done together, not as citizens divided against each other, but as a common people working towards a common future,” Vance said Saturday with New York Harbor as a backdrop during a speech aboard the USS Kearsarge during Sail4th 250.
The comments, which did not address Mamdani by name, were an apparent swipe at the socialist mayor, who was critical of the US in a televised speech on July 3.
“You will hear a couple of small but loud voices today speak obsessively, not of our national greatness, but of our national imperfections,” the veep added. “Reject the view of your nation that sees only its sins, but not its grace and its greatness.”
The day before, Mamdani focused on America’s “flaws” during his 15-minute address from George Washington’s desk inside City Hall.
“Patriotism has never been about pretending our nation is without flaws. Patriotism is every act of righteous dissent, it is every march led under the heavy sun, it is every protest held a decade before its time,” the mayor said, going on a lengthy tirade about evil landlords, poor labor conditions and American “nativism.”
At the start of his address, the VP joked that his speechwriters had written a “9-hour address” as he noted the scorching hot weather.
“I know it’s 100 degrees out here,” he said, “but my speechwriters wrote me a nice, 9-hour address, so it’s gonna be a long day.”
Vance said the epic celebration proves “what a free people can achieve by the providence of our Almighty Creator.”
“It is a very American thing to ring in 250 years of American history by parading our naval and air force might for the world to see,” Vance said.
“Today we celebrate 250 years of America facing the future without fear,” he added as he joined the International Naval Review.
He ended his speech with a call for another 250 years of “American greatness,” as he walked off stage to greet service members.
“We’ll need to do our part to create the next 250 years of American greatness,” he urged.
“So I say to all my fellow Americans — I’m proud of you. Happy birthday and happy birthday to our great nation!”
