US President Donald Trump affirmed that the United States will not allow its fall or decline, in a speech delivered before crowds at the National Mall in Washington on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence, after a delay caused by severe thunderstorms that led to a temporary evacuation of the celebration site.

Trump began his speech by asserting that the bad weather would not prevent him from appearing before his supporters, saying: 'I want to thank everyone for doing the right thing. They saw the lightning, and I said that even if we had to speak to just one person at 4 a.m., I would be here. We cannot be deterred.'

Trump's remarks came after authorities were forced to evacuate tens of thousands from the National Mall due to approaching severe thunderstorms, before the US Secret Service subjected those returning to the site to security screening procedures, causing long lines and difficulties for many to return.

Trump said he felt sorry for those who left and could not return, adding: 'You are very special people, and we have a very special country.'

Despite acknowledging that the delay was 'uncomfortable,' the US president sought to present the storm as part of the exceptional scene of the celebration, saying: 'This is an evening that will go down in history. I think this is something very special.'

He added that the sight of lightning made the occasion, despite the disruption it caused, 'bigger' and 'more beautiful in its own way.'

Before the speech, Trump had confirmed his determination to proceed with the appearance no matter how long the wait for the storm to subside, and wrote on his platform Truth Social: 'Storms bring luck regardless of the occasion. They also make events a bit more exciting.'

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He added: 'We will wait for the storm to end, I don't care if it's at 2 a.m.,' emphasizing: 'I will be there no matter the circumstances.'

Authorities asked the crowds to leave the celebration site hours before the speech, after strong winds blew and lightning flashed in the sky of the US capital, while AFP correspondents reported that chaos prevailed during the evacuation, with some attendees refusing to leave and others trying to return, chanting 'Trump, Trump.'

The celebrations of the 250th anniversary of US independence coincided with a brutal heatwave that swept large areas of the East Coast, forcing organizers of events in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia to adjust or cancel scheduled programs.

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In Washington, temperatures reached about 39 degrees Celsius, while the heat index ranged between 43 and 46 degrees, before the thunderstorms added a new challenge to the events.

Despite the weather disruptions, the 50 US states witnessed concerts, festivals, historical performances, and fireworks, on an anniversary that comes amid a complex domestic landscape intertwining the celebration of a quarter millennium since the country's founding with pressures of living costs, the war with Iran, and sharp political polarization.

Trump's speech is scheduled to be followed by a massive fireworks display over Washington, described as unprecedented, with about 850,000 fireworks shells launched from ten locations extending from the perimeter of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to barges on the Potomac River and West Potomac Park.

Trump clearly stamps his mark on the 250th anniversary celebrations, presenting the occasion as a station to defend American identity and the future of the country, at a time when divisions continue over his political vision and the path of the United States in the coming period.