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Storm delays Trump’s speech
Severe weather disrupted celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, including in Washington, DC, where a thunderstorm delayed a speech from President Donald Trump by almost two hours.
In Washington, DC, authorities ordered a weather-related evacuation, with spectators sheltering in nearby museums and government buildings for a few hours before returning to an open field near the Washington Monument.
AP reported that Trump spoke in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, and that he declared the milestone “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.”
The storm disruption came alongside extreme heat across the East Coast, with the National Weather Service warning that temperatures approached and in many places surpassed triple digits, and with the Great American State Fair on the National Mall temporarily closed Friday afternoon as temperatures reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
DW said the heat wave upended July Fourth celebrations across the US, with the National Weather Service warning that “numerous daily temperature records are expected today and Independence Day.”
Patriotism, partisanship, and “communists”
Trump’s speech on Saturday mixed patriotic appeals with partisan politics, as AP said he stumped again for the SAVE America Act and revived denunciations of communism ahead of the November midterms.
AP reported that Trump told the crowd, “We will always be on top,” and “We will never let our country fall,” while also leaning into partisan territory unusual for an Independence Day address.
DW said Trump marked the 250th anniversary with a speech at Mount Rushmore where he warned “communism is a mortal threat to American liberty.”
KSL described Trump’s address as campaign-style on the National Mall, saying he repeated his calls for new voting restrictions and warned that “communists” could gain ground in the country.
In Washington, spectators waited in stepped-up security and temperatures that reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius), and Al Jazeera reported that local police said they had not received any reports of violence.
Heat, security, and shifting plans
Beyond Washington, severe weather prompted cancellations and delays, with Al Jazeera saying celebrations were canceled in Hartford in the state of Connecticut and in Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre in the state of Pennsylvania.
“Trump mixes patriotism with partisanship as he celebrates America’s ‘joyous’ 250th anniversary Trump mixes patriotism with partisanship as he celebrates America’s ‘joyous’ 250th anniversary WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump mixed partisan politics with patriotic appeals on Saturday as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, a moment he declared “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time”
In Boston, Al Jazeera reported that spectators gathered to watch fireworks were told to briefly seek shelter before events later resumed, while New York City and Pittsburgh moved forward with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate the shifting weather.
NPR said Trump took the stage at the National Mall around 11:15 p.m. ET after stormy weather forced evacuations and delays, and it quoted him praising the country’s history while also praising his war in Iran and vowing to restrict mail-in ballots.
NPR also said the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the D.C. area in effect from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Saturday, later announcing a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. Saturday.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that “Freedom 250 will share updates on programming and doors reopening,” as Washington’s metro system said several underground stations were available for shelter.
