Donald Trump's Independence Day address in Washington, DC, was marked by severe weather disruptions, including lightning, rain, and extreme heat. The president, aged 80, finally spoke to a soggy and sunburnt crowd at 11.15pm after a two-hour evacuation of the National Mall due to thunderstorms.
Trump's Speech and Comparisons to D-Day
During his 35-minute address, Trump compared his determination to deliver the speech in the rain to the D-Day assault in World War Two. He told Fox News host Bret Baier, 'Those veterans had to go through bad weather on D-Day. I'm going through bad weather. No matter what happens, I'm delivering this speech.' The D-Day invasion resulted in roughly 9,000 Allied soldiers killed.
Trump also insisted on his social media platform that storms bring 'good luck.' However, the rain and lightning forced the evacuation of the National Mall for over two hours, preventing many from gathering to watch the address.
Extreme Heat and Evacuation
Days of extreme heat led to lightning strikes in Washington on July 4, with a severe thunderstorm watch from the National Weather Service in effect until 10pm. Police ordered the evacuation at 7pm, despite people queuing since 11am in blistering 39°C heat. Winds of up to 75mph hurled plastic burger boxes and MAGA hats around the historic site.
The Washington Monument grounds, where Trump spoke, had been briefly closed earlier due to a heat advisory. A concert to open the Great American State Fair was cancelled after almost all performers dropped out. National Guard soldiers were filmed flipping picnic tables to encourage people to leave, as hundreds of fair-goers chanted, 'Hell no, we won't go!' and 'USA, USA.'
Fireworks Display and Pollution
Trump capped off the rally with a 'great fireworks display,' which launched some 850,000 'pyrotechnic effects' from multiple locations around the National Mall, West Potomac Park, and the Potomac River. According to Freedom 250, the nonprofit helping organize America's 250th birthday celebrations, this puts the show in the running to be the largest fireworks display in history. The previous record was set in the Philippines in 2016, with 810,904 fireworks launched by Iglesia Ni Cristo.
The sheer amount of patriotic explosions and smoke spewed 'hazardous' pollution across the capital city. Lightning flashed even throughout the red, white, and blue pyrotechnic display, and the Village People's classic 'YMCA' blasted.
Trump's Remarks on Politics and Policy
In his address, Trump told tall tales of civil war heroes and scary stories of left-wing politics. He compared Communism to 'cancer,' calling on the world to 'cut it out fast' before it grows. He added, 'We are all made in the image of one almighty God,' to laughs, and said, 'a communist would never say that.'
Trump urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would limit postal ballots and require proof of citizenship to register to vote. He praised the US Army for squashing Iran amid his months-long war and said he helped 'rebuild' the military in his first term. He added, 'We used it a little bit in our – actually, I should say third term, but I won't do that, because I don't want any controversy.' The Constitution prevents presidents from serving three terms, something Trump has long poked fun at.
Public Reaction and Aftermath
One man blamed the evacuation on 'liberals in the weather service,' a reporter from The New York Times at the scene said. When lightning began to strike, spectators were urged to shelter in nearby buildings such as the Smithsonian and the Jefferson Memorial. They were also told to hide in federal departments designated as shelters, only to find the buildings, such as the Commerce Department, locked. A worker poking their head from the window reportedly shrugged when asked if fair-goers could take cover inside.
