By Jeff Mason
MOUNT RUSHMORE, S.D. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump was expected to rail against a "left wing mob" for seeking to "tear down" U.S. history at a celebration with thousands of supporters at Mount Rushmore on Friday, shrugging off concerns about social distancing during a pandemic.
Native American protesters were arrested after blocking a road to the South Dakota landmark, according to video livestreamed on social media. They have criticized Trump's visit for increasing the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus and for celebrating U.S. independence in an area that is sacred to them.
Trump will view a fireworks display as part of July 4 celebrations at the monument, which depicts the images of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
A Trump campaign official said the president, who has criticized protesters for tearing down statues during demonstrations against racial inequality, would criticize people who are trying to "tear down" the United States.
"The left wing mob and those practicing cancel culture are engaging in totalitarian behavior that is completely alien to American life - and we must not accept it," the official said, paraphrasing Trump's expected remarks.
Trump sounded an optimistic note as he left Washington.
"A lot of good things are happening, a lot of very powerful things are happening, and our country is doing very well," Trump told reporters.
The president has come under criticism for his reaction to nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Trump has emphasized a "law and order" response to the demonstrations.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) tweeted at one point that Trump had disrespected Native Americans and that his South Dakota trip was "glorifying white supremacy." It later deleted the tweet.
Both Washington and Jefferson, revered for their roles in the founding of the nation, were slave owners.
Mount Rushmore has not had fireworks since 2009 because of environmental concerns. Trump advocated for a resumption of the display, and the state says the surrounding Black Hills National Forest has "gained strength" since then and that fireworks technology has advanced.
CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
It will be the Republican president's latest event with large crowds, defying health experts' recommendations to avoid big gatherings amid recent spikes of COVID-19 cases across the country.
Some 7,500 people are expected to attend the outdoor event. Masks will be available but are not required. COVID-19 cases in surrounding Pennington County have more than doubled over the past month.
Nationwide, seven states set single-day records for new cases on Friday, according to a Reuters tally.
Cheryl Schreier, superintendent of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial from 2010 to 2019, admonished South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Trump for defying social distancing guidelines for an event she warned carried risks of spreading disease, triggering wildfires and contaminating groundwater.
"This is a recipe for disaster," she wrote in a column published in the Washington Post.
Trump won the reliably Republican-leaning state in 2016. He has been criticized for holding large events with little social distancing in Oklahoma and Arizona in recent weeks.
Trump will hold another celebration for the July 4 holiday on Saturday in Washington.