Donald Trump at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone on July 3. Photographer: Jesse Brown Nelson/Bloomberg Photo by Jesse Brown Nelson /Bloomberg

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(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump basked in a celebration of the country’s 250th birthday at Mount Rushmore on Friday, standing before a memorial to some of the most beloved presidents as he looks to boost his own political standing ahead of midterm elections.

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The optics at the event in South Dakota, part of the anniversary celebrations leading up to July 4, offered just the latest example of how Trump has seized on the festivities at a politically challenging time — seeking to link himself to historic past presidents and improve a national mood soured by anxiety over his economic agenda and the war with Iran.

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“Tonight, we come to this beautiful mountain, and it is beautiful to express our gratitude to those who made it possible, starting with the four men most responsible for reaching this milestone more than any others,” Trump said. “We salute the fathers of our country.” 

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Hovering over Trump and those gathered for the show were massive 60-foot carveouts with the faces of four presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Historians have ranked them as among the greatest US presidents.

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Trump has expressed a desire to some day be memorialized alongside some of the country’s most iconic leaders. During his first term, then-South Dakota governor Kristi Noem said Trump told her it was his “dream” to be honored in that way.

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Before landing in South Dakota, the new Air Force One, which was donated by Qatar, flew over Mount Rushmore twice. Marine One also flew over the memorial. Trump was greeted by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Trump has clashed with Senate Republicans in recent weeks over the Senate’s inability to pass the Save America Act, a controversial bill tied to voting. 

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During his speech, Trump called on Congress to pass the act, saying “we can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms — if we are foolish.”

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The celebration at Mount Rushmore was intended to be unifying and bipartisan, but the president’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America has drawn controversy. Critics have accused Trump of hijacking the country’s birthday festivities to help boost a partisan agenda and to promote himself.

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Earlier: Trump Says ‘America is Back’ in Rally Marking 250th US Birthday

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Earlier this week, Trump likened his accomplishments to those of Theodore Roosevelt during a dedication ceremony in North Dakota for the former leader’s presidential library. And last week, Trump turned a launch event for the Great American State Fair into a campaign style rally on the National Mall.

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During his Mount Rushmore speech, he hearkened back to the Cold War era and also dinged political opponents.

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“A generation after we fought and won the Cold War against the menace of communism, there is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success,” Trump said Friday.