Evacuation Ordered At Washington, D.C. National Mall As Storms Gather Before Trump’s July 4 Speech

An evacuation was ordered Saturday evening at the National Mall as storms gathered around Washington just hours before President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech commemorating America’s 250th anniversary of independence.

“'Salute to America' event being evacuated due to weather conditions Saturday is the hottest July Fourth on record for Washington, D”

ABC News

ABC News reported that the “Salute to America 250 Celebration & Fireworks” event was slated to be in Washington, D.C., at 7 p.m. Saturday when temperatures were set to feel like near 100 degrees, and that the program was delayed as attendees were asked to temporarily leave and seek shelter in nearby buildings.

ABC News

ABC News meteorologists said the preliminary high temperature in Washington, D.C., Saturday was 102, breaking the previous record high of 100 degrees set on July 4, 1919.

AP said those on the Mall were encouraged to go to federal buildings nearby or Smithsonian museums, while Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that “Freedom 250 will share updates on programming and doors reopening.”

Trump planned to speak on the National Mall before fireworks scheduled to rain down over the nation’s capital, with storms and extreme heat shaping the final hours of the holiday weekend.

Trump downplayed the intense heat in a social media post Saturday afternoon, saying, “Despite the heat, which isn’t as bad as predicted, the crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE.”

ABC News reported that Trump told reporters on Wednesday, “It’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to go, and I’m going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything,” and that his speech was set for 10 p.m.

Associated Press

ABC News said meteorologists were also warning about dangerous storms that could hit the D.C. metro area Saturday evening, likely between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and that a severe thunderstorm watch was issued for parts of the mid-Atlantic including D.C., Baltimore and Richmond until 10 p.m.

Freedom 250 organizers said they and their public safety partners were closely monitoring the weather in Washington, D.C., and ABC News quoted Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Avalrez saying, “The safety of our guests, performers, and staff is our top priority.”

The same ABC News report said the secured viewing area for the fireworks on the Washington Monument grounds had a capacity of approximately 150,000 people and was expected to fill early, with fireworks expected to begin between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. and last approximately 35 minutes.

The heat wave and storm risk forced changes across the region, with FOX 13 News Utah reporting that signs at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall posted an alert shortly after 7 p.m. encouraging participants to leave the area.

“Evacuation ordered at National Mall as storms gather ahead of Trump’s July 4th speech Evacuation ordered at National Mall as storms gather ahead of Trump’s July 4th speech WASHINGTON (AP) — An evacuation was ordered Saturday evening at the National Mall as storms gathered around Washington just hours before President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech commemorating America’s 250th anniversary of independence”

Associated Press

FOX 13 News Utah said earlier Saturday a rodeo and the city’s main Independence Day parade were canceled, while a smaller parade rolled along in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in the morning as onlookers sought shade under trees along the route.

ABC News said the event was billed as the largest display ever held over the National Mall, featuring 850,000 pyrotechnic effects and fireworks launching from 10 sites around the National Monument, with organizers saying the fireworks were expected to begin between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. and last approximately 35 minutes.

ABC News also reported that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was expected to close beginning at noon on July Fourth to accommodate the aerial demonstrations, and that the celebration would include several military flyovers.

As the holiday’s final schedule tightened, AP described the day as a collision of the 250th anniversary with political polarization and a heat wave bearing down on millions of people across multiple states, with the National Mall evacuation ordered just hours before Trump’s speech.