U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States would never succumb to decline in a speech given at the "National Mall" in Washington, commemorating the 250th Independence anniversary of the nation. His address came after a delay due to severe thunderstorms that temporarily cleared the event site.
Trump began by assuring that adverse weather would not deter his appearance before his supporters, stating, "I want to thank everyone for doing the right thing. They saw the lightning, and I said even if I had to speak to one person at four in the morning, I would be here. We cannot be deterred."
The evacuation of tens of thousands from the "National Mall" due to the approaching thunderstorms led to the Secret Service re-screening returning attendees, resulting in long lines and challenges for many attempting to return. Trump expressed regret for those who left and couldn't return, saying, "You are very special people, and we have a very special country."
Despite acknowledging the delay as "inconvenient," Trump portrayed the storm as part of the exceptional spectacle, saying, "This is an evening that will go down in history. I think this is something very special."
He added that the lightning made the occasion "grander" and "more beautiful in its own way," despite the disruption it caused.
Prior to the speech, Trump affirmed his commitment to address the audience regardless of the storm's duration, posting on "Truth Social": "Storms bring luck no matter what the occasion. They also make events a bit more exciting."
He further stated, "We will wait for the storm to pass, I don't care if it's at 2:00 AM," asserting, "I will be there no matter the conditions."
Authorities requested the crowd to exit the celebration site hours before the speech as strong winds and lightning struck the capital's sky. AFP reporters noted chaos during the evacuation, with some refusing to leave while others attempted to re-enter, chanting "Trump! Trump!"
The 250th Independence Day celebrations coincided with a severe heatwave sweeping much of the east coast, forcing planners in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia to adjust or cancel scheduled events.
In Washington, temperatures soared to nearly 39 degrees Celsius, with a heat index ranging between 43 and 46 degrees, further challenged by the thunderstorms.
Despite the weather disruptions, all fifty states hosted concerts, festivals, historical reenactments, and fireworks in an anniversary marked by domestic complexities intertwining the celebration of a quarter-millennium of establishment with pressures of living costs, tension with Iran, and acute political polarization.
Following Trump's speech, a massive fireworks display over Washington was set to follow, described as unprecedented, with approximately 850,000 fireworks launched from ten sites spanning from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to barges on the Potomac River and West Potomac Park.
Trump has distinctly marked the 250th anniversary celebrations, presenting it as a moment to defend American identity and the nation's future amidst ongoing divisions regarding his political vision and the direction of the United States in the coming period.