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| Sequoia Crosswhite said he was honoring women with his flute song. After his performance, the scene went dark and the words "Seek Shelter!" were heard, as lightning and hail moved towards the event. |
'Seek Shelter' at Trump's Fireworks Event at Mount Rushmore
MOUNT RUSHMORE, South Dakota -- In a bolt of white patriotism, Trump denied the U.S. is built on stolen land and claimed those who believe this are "thieves, radicals, and lunatics" who he plans to exile. Sounding as if he was reading from a 1950s script on communism instead of the teleprompter, Trump's words were meant to divide.
Crosswhite's bio says he is an entertainer in Rapid City. He told the crowd he is a descendant of two chiefs, Chief War Eagle and Chief Swift Cloud.
During Trump's praise of white patriots at Mount Rushmore, he failed to point out the millions of innocent people around the world who have been killed by the United States perpetual wars. Trump said the American heroes were "carved on Mount Rushmore."
The Indigenous Protector Movement responds to Trump's statement.
"His speech was about rehabilitating colonialism. It was about glorifying Manifest Destiny while refusing to reckon with what it required: massacres, forced removals, broken treaties, starvation policies, boarding schools, and the attempted destruction of Indigenous Nations.
"When they celebrate the “settlers,” understand what they are asking us to celebrate. They are asking us to celebrate the invasion of our homelands, the genocide of our peoples, governments that violated treaty after treaty, and the occupation of our sacred places. We will not. We refuse to sanitize genocide so America can feel more comfortable with its past, and we refuse to allow our children to be told that speaking the truth about stolen land makes them a threat to this country.
"The United States calls itself a nation of laws. Then it should begin by honoring the highest law it entered into with our Nations… the treaties. These were not symbolic promises or charitable gestures. They were binding nation to nation agreements made with sovereign Indigenous Nations whose inherent rights did not disappear because the United States chose to ignore them.
"Justice has never meant asking Indigenous peoples to move on while the benefits of dispossession remain intact. Justice requires the restoration of lands where possible, the fulfillment of treaty obligations, meaningful reparations for generations of theft and destruction, and the recognition that Indigenous sovereignty is not a relic of history. It is a living political and legal reality.
"Our future does not depend on protecting myths about America’s past. It depends on whether this country is finally willing to confront the truth, uphold its own laws, and choose justice over conquest.
"Until then, we will continue what our ancestors began. We will remember, we will organize, we will protect our lands and waters, and we will defend our Nations. We will continue to assert what has always been true." -- Indigenous Protector Movement, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Screenshot by Censored News.
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, July 3, 2026
Updated July 5, 2026: Statements by Oglala President Frank Star Comes Out
and the Indigenous Protector Movement
MOUNT RUSHMORE, South Dakota -- In a bolt of white patriotism, Trump denied the U.S. is built on stolen land and claimed those who believe this are "thieves, radicals, and lunatics" who he plans to exile. Sounding as if he was reading from a 1950s script on communism instead of the teleprompter, Trump's words were meant to divide.
A flutist opened Trump's fireworks event at Mount Rushmore, using the Lakota language, and said he is Cheyenne River Lakota and the descendant of chiefs. Sequoia Crosswhite said he was there "representing" with his music.
Lakotas responded immediately to the performance and questioned who Sequoia Crosswhite is and why does he claim to represent Cheyenne River Lakota. Lakota elders said Lakotas would never be associated with anyone responsible for crimes against women.
The Oglala Lakota Nation strongly opposed this event in the sacred Black Hills.
On stage before Trump took the stage, Crosswhite spoke of the seven generations and claimed he was honoring women.
"Next time you see one of the beautiful teepees that are set up, keep in mind, those belong to the women, the women put up those lodges."
"The women went out into the forest and cut down those pines and scraped the bark and branches off the trees."
"Without them, we would not exist."
"I would like to take the time to honor the daughters, the sisters, the mothers, the aunties, the grandmother, and great grandmothers," Crosswhite told the crowd.
"Next time you see one of the beautiful teepees that are set up, keep in mind, those belong to the women, the women put up those lodges."
"The women went out into the forest and cut down those pines and scraped the bark and branches off the trees."
"Without them, we would not exist."
"I would like to take the time to honor the daughters, the sisters, the mothers, the aunties, the grandmother, and great grandmothers," Crosswhite told the crowd.
While introducing Crosswhite, the announcer said they were honoring these sacred hills, the "original stewards" and the rich legacy, by beginning with the Lakota.
After Crosswhite's performance, the scene went dark with this announcement: "Weather delay: Please stand by," and then, "Seek shelter now!" It was announced that severe weather, lightning and huge hail was expected.
During his performance, Crosswhite received a roar of applause from the crowd, largely white with a military band. Crosswhite spoke at length about honoring women and also said he was honoring the Duke of Hawaii; Crispus Attucks, Wahpepah in Revolutionary War; Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, Yakton Lakota; James Thornton, president of the National Football League; Billy Mills, and Ira Hayes.
After Crosswhite's performance, the scene went dark with this announcement: "Weather delay: Please stand by," and then, "Seek shelter now!" It was announced that severe weather, lightning and huge hail was expected.
During his performance, Crosswhite received a roar of applause from the crowd, largely white with a military band. Crosswhite spoke at length about honoring women and also said he was honoring the Duke of Hawaii; Crispus Attucks, Wahpepah in Revolutionary War; Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, Yakton Lakota; James Thornton, president of the National Football League; Billy Mills, and Ira Hayes.
Crosswhite's bio says he is an entertainer in Rapid City. He told the crowd he is a descendant of two chiefs, Chief War Eagle and Chief Swift Cloud.
Oglala President Frank Star Comes Out responded to the event and points out the U.S. continues to fail to uphold its Treaty obligations. The Indigenous Protector Movement responded to Trump's denial that the U.S. is on stolen land.
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| After Sequoia Crosswhite's performance, the scene went dark as a hailstorm moved in. The words, "Seek Shelter!" could be heard. After the weather cleared, the event continued. |
Oglala Lakota President Responds to Event
Oglala Lakota President Frank Star Comes Out responded after the event at Mount Rushmore.
"The Oglala Sioux Tribe stands strong on its position opposing the event happening in its Sacred Black Hills in Mount Rushmore."
President Star Comes Out said Oglala are protecting the Sacred Black Hills.
"We constantly have to remind the United States of its Treaty obligations to uphold."
"Today, I feel it is still being ignored, and it shows."
"We're resilient, we're strong people."
"We may not be rich financially but we are rich in culture, history and pride."
"My message to Oyate is 'Be vigil."
The Oglala Lakota Tribal Council opposed the presidential visit to Mount Rushmore for this fireworks celebration in the Sacred Black Hills, for today, July 3, 2026.
"It should not occur," the Lakota Council said in its resolution, pointing out the violation of the aboriginal treaty, the Fort Laramie Treaty, and the distress Lakota already live with because of federal budget cuts.
The tribe's resolution points out the ongoing uranium mining and oil pipelines, including Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline, where sacred sites are being destroyed.
The Keystone XL Pipeline, Dewey Burdock and Craven Canyon Uranium Projects, DAPLE and the USAP Sentinel Project -- all in the territory of the Great Sioux Nation -- have destroyed Sioux sacred sites and cultural resources, the resolution states.
The Oglala Lakota Council said it opposed the event because of the violation of Winters Doctrine for the production of electricity on the Missouri River without payment to the Sioux Tribes, the resolution states.
The Winters Doctrine guarantees tribes as much water as Native Americans need to survive.
Further, the fireworks event is opposed because of the ICE actions in Minneapolis, where Lakotas were illegally arrested and imprisoned by ICE in deportation sweeps, and two U.S. citizens were murdered by ICE.
The Oglala Lakota Council urged the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. National Forest Service to cancel the fireworks event because of the local drought, posing a risk of wildfires in the Black Hills, that could threaten both Lakota and local residents and their properties.
The resolution was passed unanimously by the Oglala Tribal on Pine Ridge in South Dakota on June 9, 2026, and points out the seizure of its water without compensation to the Great Nation, destruction of sacred sites and cultural resources, and suffering caused by presidential actions.
Indigenous Protector Movement, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Indigenous Protector Movement responds to Trump's statement.
While speaking on white patriotism and communism Trump said:
"As for those who pedal Marxist lies about our heritage, tell our children that we live on stolen land or that our heroes were oppressors. They're doing something much worse than slandering our past. They are slandering and attacking our future. Not going to let that happen. They're trying to tear down the great American character to destroy the people who declared independence, who crossed the Delaware, who settled the West and conquered the skies." -- Trump
"You know who those people are. But we will never let that happen. Our American ancestors did not shed their blood at Concord and Trenton, Gettysburg and Shiloh, Midway and Normandy just so that a band of thieves, radicals, and lunatics could come in and loot, pillage our nation. Our heroes died to win, build, and to save, and to build truly a great country, the greatest country ever in the world." -- Trump
"Don't let them take too much of your time. You know they're wasting your time, don't you? But we're not going to let them take too long or too much of our time as they play their games. and send them into exile. We will send them quickly away." -- Trump
"Don't let them take too much of your time. You know they're wasting your time, don't you? But we're not going to let them take too long or too much of our time as they play their games. and send them into exile. We will send them quickly away." -- Trump
The Indigenous Protector Movement responds:
Statement:
"During his Fourth of July speech, Donald Trump declared that people who teach children that this country was built on “stolen land” are attacking America’s future.
Let us be absolutely clear. The Black Hills are stolen land. That is not an opinion, “Marxist propaganda,” or revisionist history. It is a historical and legal fact.
Let us be absolutely clear. The Black Hills are stolen land. That is not an opinion, “Marxist propaganda,” or revisionist history. It is a historical and legal fact.
"The United States violated its treaties, seized the Black Hills, and has refused to return them ever since. To stand on occupied Lakota land and call the truth a lie is one of the clearest expressions of colonial arrogance imaginable.
"His speech was about rehabilitating colonialism. It was about glorifying Manifest Destiny while refusing to reckon with what it required: massacres, forced removals, broken treaties, starvation policies, boarding schools, and the attempted destruction of Indigenous Nations.
"When they celebrate the “settlers,” understand what they are asking us to celebrate. They are asking us to celebrate the invasion of our homelands, the genocide of our peoples, governments that violated treaty after treaty, and the occupation of our sacred places. We will not. We refuse to sanitize genocide so America can feel more comfortable with its past, and we refuse to allow our children to be told that speaking the truth about stolen land makes them a threat to this country.
"The United States calls itself a nation of laws. Then it should begin by honoring the highest law it entered into with our Nations… the treaties. These were not symbolic promises or charitable gestures. They were binding nation to nation agreements made with sovereign Indigenous Nations whose inherent rights did not disappear because the United States chose to ignore them.
"Justice has never meant asking Indigenous peoples to move on while the benefits of dispossession remain intact. Justice requires the restoration of lands where possible, the fulfillment of treaty obligations, meaningful reparations for generations of theft and destruction, and the recognition that Indigenous sovereignty is not a relic of history. It is a living political and legal reality.
"Our future does not depend on protecting myths about America’s past. It depends on whether this country is finally willing to confront the truth, uphold its own laws, and choose justice over conquest.
"Until then, we will continue what our ancestors began. We will remember, we will organize, we will protect our lands and waters, and we will defend our Nations. We will continue to assert what has always been true." -- Indigenous Protector Movement, Minneapolis, Minnesota
(Below) Lakotas were quick to respond to Sequoia Crosswhite's performance at Mount Rushmore. Lakotas question who he is, and why he is representing Cheyenne River Lakota. Hundreds of responses can be viewed on our Facebook page.
The fireworks event is sponsored by the U.S. National Park Service and State of South Dakota. The site was closed to the public on July 3, with tickets issued beforehand in a lottery, according to the National Park Service.
South Dakota State officials said more than 100,000 people applied for tickets. The Department of Tourism said around 4,800 people were selected to attend and were chosen at random among the 102,991 people who signed up for a lottery.
Copyright Censored News.
They opposed this event because of the high fire danger in the area.
ReplyDeleteNo amount of money would get me to attend that event.
ReplyDelete