Trump vows to address US 250th anniversary celebration despite storms, heat and security concerns

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would go ahead with his speech marking the United States’ 250th anniversary on the National Mall “no matter what,” even as severe summer thunderstorms threatened to disrupt the celebrations.

Authorities briefly ordered people to evacuate the area around the Washington Monument, where Trump was scheduled to speak, but organisers later said attendees would be allowed back in. Freedom 250, the group managing the event, announced that Trump’s address would begin at 11 p.m. ET (0300 GMT), an hour later than originally planned.

“I will be there no matter what,” Trump wrote on social media. “It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight.”

Thousands of visitors endured long security lines and sweltering temperatures that reached 102°F (39°C) to attend the celebrations. The record-breaking heat wave forced the cancellation of several parades and outdoor events across the capital.

“It’s just part of the deal I signed up for,” said Glen Solander, a 60-year-old software engineer from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, while waiting at a security checkpoint.

The event also drew members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front, which announced its arrival in Washington on social media. Hundreds of individuals wearing the group’s attire were seen travelling on Metro trains serving the capital region. Local police said they had received no reports of violence.

Unlike most previous presidents, who have typically avoided making in-person appearances at Independence Day celebrations, Trump has taken a highly visible role in the country’s 250th anniversary events. His administration’s Freedom 250 initiative has largely eclipsed a bipartisan commission established in 2016 to oversee the semiquincentennial celebrations.

Much of the 1.5-mile National Mall has been transformed into a “Great American State Fair,” featuring a Ferris wheel, exhibitions by conservative organisations and defence contractors, alongside entertainment and cultural displays. Freedom 250 says the fair is designed to celebrate the people and innovations that make the United States “the greatest nation on Earth.”

The programme, however, has sparked political controversy. Several Democratic-led states declined to participate, while a number of scheduled performers withdrew, citing concerns over the event’s increasingly partisan tone. Trump formally launched the celebrations with a rally on June 24.

Attendance, initially modest, has surged in recent days, with visitors waiting in lines stretching several city blocks. The nearby Smithsonian museums reported near-record sales at their shops and restaurants on Friday, according to Smithsonian executive Frank DiGiovine.

Other Freedom 250 events include a faith rally featuring predominantly conservative Christian speakers, major sporting events, an IndyCar race planned for August, and promotional “Freedom Trucks” that critics argue present an overly religious interpretation of American history while downplaying issues such as slavery and racial injustice.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that most Americans believe the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations have become excessively political, including about three-quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans.

Ahead of the anniversary, Trump has also pushed a broader effort to refurbish Washington’s monuments and public spaces. While several statues and fountains have been restored, a $15 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has faced criticism over persistent maintenance issues, including peeling paint and algae-filled water, despite heightened security around the landmark.