‘I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th’: Trump to go ahead with July 4 speech amid DC storms
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said that he would deliver his July 4 address "no matter what" after severe thunderstorms forced thousands of attendees at the National Mall to seek shelter during the nation's 250th Independence Day celebrations.
The weather delayed the "Salute to America" program, but Trump insisted the event would continue later that night. Organizers subsequently announced revised timings for the celebration.
Trump says weather will not stop Independence Day address
In a Truth Social post, Trump sought to reassure supporters that the celebration would proceed despite the storms approaching Washington. "Storms bring luck to whatever the occasion. They also make events a little bit more exciting," Trump wrote. "We will wait it out, I don't care if it's 2:00 o'clock in the morning, or in one hour from now."
The president dismissed concerns over the delayed schedule and encouraged the crowd to remain upbeat, writing, "It's Saturday night, let's have some fun, even if we are out late tonight. They say 11:00 o'clock for the speech. Who cares???"
Trump added that he would soon depart the White House for the event and praised military veterans attending the celebration. "Our great veterans, especially the old timers, many of whom are there, went through hellfire, and it didn't stop them," he wrote. "It's not going to stop us either! I'm not going to let some rain stop our 250th."
National Mall evacuated before organizers announce revised schedule
Severe thunderstorms prompted officials to temporarily evacuate the National Mall, where more than 10,000 attendees had gathered for the 'Salute to America' event marking the nation's 250th anniversary.
Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said public safety agencies directed guests to leave the event grounds and seek shelter in nearby federal buildings and museums.
"Due to approaching severe storms, Freedom 250, United States Secret Service, United States Park Police, National Park Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and all public safety partners are asking all guests to evacuate event grounds and seek temporary shelter in a nearby building," Alvarez said.
About two hours later, organizers announced that the celebration would resume. "The gates to the event will reopen at 9:45 PM ET at President Donald J Trump's direction," Alvarez said in a subsequent statement. "It's time to celebrate! The Salute to America celebration will move forward, and the fireworks spectacular will follow."
The storms also disrupted Independence Day celebrations across the East Coast, forcing cancellations in Hartford, Harrisburg, and Wilkes-Barre, temporary suspensions in Boston and Philadelphia, and delayed fireworks in New York and Pittsburgh.
