Federal officials did not intervene in a white supremacist group’s rally on July 4 in Washington, D.C., citing protections for free speech, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Sunday. The event, which involved hundreds of masked Patriot Front members marching through the nation’s capital, was lawful despite the group’s controversial views, Burgum told CNN’s State of the Union program.

Patriot Front, known for its white supremacist and anti-immigrant ideology, has publicly criticized democracy. A manifesto on the group’s website states that democracy has failed the United States and calls for a “hard reset” to revive what it describes as the traditions and virtues of European settlers, whom it identifies as the nation’s forefathers. During the march, members were accompanied by drummers near the U.S. Capitol and the Union Station transit center before taking Metro trains to a suburb in the District of Columbia.

Although Burgum expressed personal disagreement with the group’s ideology, he emphasized that their actions remain protected under U.S. free speech rights, even if the views contribute to what he described as the “messy” nature of democracy. He pointed out that other protesters who criticize President Donald Trump are similarly permitted to assemble, underscoring equal application of free speech protections.

Burgum declined to explicitly condemn Patriot Front or state whether he would recommend that President Trump do so. He characterized the march as an anomaly within the broader context of the country’s 250th Independence Day celebrations.

Separately, Burgum addressed renovation efforts in Washington led by the Trump administration, highlighting work on various monuments and fountains throughout the city. Among the projects, he mentioned a $14.7 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool, completed recently but soon showing signs of deterioration, including algae growth and surface peeling.

Echoing President Trump’s unverified assertions, Burgum claimed vandals damaged the pool’s new liner by cutting long gashes with box cutters. The company responsible for the original renovation, secured through a no-bid contract, is slated to conduct repairs. Burgum praised the company’s previous work, describing it as “fantastic.”

The administration’s focus on maintaining and improving public monuments and spaces in the capital forms part of Burgum’s broader remarks on efforts to make Washington safer and more attractive, crediting President Trump’s leadership in these initiatives.