President Donald Trump on Friday hailed the United States as the world's greatest nation and said the country has regained international respect under his leadership during a speech marking the nation's 250th birthday at Mount Rushmore.

Speaking beneath the monument honoring Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, Trump used the anniversary celebration to praise the nation's history while contrasting his administration with the previous one.

"By the grace of God, the United States of America is the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history," Trump said. "It is great to be your president."

The event was part of nationwide celebrations commemorating the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Trump described the nation's founding as "the best and most incredible thing ever to happen on this planet by human hands" and said American ideals of liberty, justice, equality and self-government had flourished as nowhere else in the world.

"No other country has done more good for this world than the United States of America," he said.

The president also used the speech to criticize the Biden administration, saying the country had been in "very serious decline" before he returned to office.

"What they've done to us, we can never, ever forget that," Trump said.

Trump argued the United States has restored its global standing during his second term, saying foreign leaders now view the country differently.

"Today we are the hottest country anywhere in the world," he said. "Everybody respects us like no nation."

He added: "Every king, every prime minister, every president, they respect us more than any other country by far. Two years ago, they laughed at us. Now it's only respect."

The president told supporters that "the best is yet to come."

He concluded by highlighting landmarks and industries across the country, from Niagara Falls and the Texas oil fields to Midwestern farms and New York City's financial district, describing them as symbols of the nation's strength and prosperity.

The Mount Rushmore appearance was one of the centerpiece events of the administration's America250 commemoration.

Trump has repeatedly said the anniversary offers an opportunity to promote patriotism and celebrate the nation's founding, themes that have featured prominently in his public remarks since returning to the White House.