Trump insists on delivering his speech

Violent Weather Upends America's 250th Independence Celebration

July 5, 2026 - 08:30 | Last updated July 5, 2026 - 08:30

Organizers of the celebrations, which took months to prepare, were forced to modify or cancel activities entirely due to the heatwave.

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Okaz (Washington)

In an unexpected scene that disrupted preparations and plunged the capital Washington into a state of anticipation and confusion, the United States' celebrations of the 250th anniversary of independence turned into a race against the weather, after severe storms forced event organizers to issue urgent evacuation orders for the National Mall, where President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech to a large crowd.

Despite the bad weather, Trump insisted on going ahead with his speech, confirming via his platform Truth Social that he would attend 'no matter the conditions,' saying the storms might add a more exciting character to the event, and that he was ready to wait until the weather improved, without giving up his attendance.

In contrast, the organizers of the 'Freedom 250' celebration urged participants to leave the site immediately and take shelter inside nearby museums and federal buildings, while Washington's underground metro stations were made available as temporary shelters for the public, in an attempt to control the situation and ensure the safety of attendees.

At the same time, a spokesperson for the event confirmed that updates regarding the program and the reopening of the site would be announced gradually according to weather developments, while some celebratory events continued in other cities such as New York and Chicago, where scenes of tall ships passing near the Statue of Liberty drew attention, evoking the atmosphere of the bicentennial celebration in 1976.

These celebrations come amid widespread interest in this historic occasion, which is a symbolic milestone in the trajectory of the United States, as Americans await the moment to revisit their historical landmarks and reflect on the country's journey from former colonies to a global power.

However, the festive atmosphere was not without disruption, as the heatwave and storms that hit the East Coast led to the cancellation and modification of several events that had been prepared for months, which was clearly reflected in the capital Washington, where a state of alert prevailed after urgent warnings were issued calling for the evacuation of the area after 7:00 p.m.

As evacuation calls sounded through loudspeakers at the National Mall, some attendees left the site toward safe points, while others remained in place in a state of hesitation, amid a presence of National Guard troops who urged everyone to leave immediately, at a time when the Secret Service announced the temporary closure of checkpoints ahead of President Trump's scheduled speech at 10:00 p.m. Washington time.