Trump vows to still deliver Fourth of July speech after weather prompts D.C. event evacuation

Trump vows to still deliver speech after weather prompts Fourth of July event evacuation

Attendees encouraged to seek shelter at nearby federal buildings, museums

U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to commemorate America's 250th anniversary of independence with a rally on the National Mall were complicated on Saturday by severe storms that gathered near Washington, forcing event organizers to order an evacuation.

"Freedom 250 will share updates on programming and doors reopening," Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that encouraged participants to seek shelter at museums and federal buildings near the National Mall.

Washington's metro system also said several of its underground stations were available for shelter.

As the order to evacuate was played over loudspeakers on the National Mall, some people appeared to be standing in place, talking with those around them and not exiting the area, while others were walking toward exits. National Guard troops told people to leave.

The U.S. Secret Service announced it had temporarily closed checkpoints to screen attendees ahead of Trump's speech, which was scheduled to begin around 10 p.m. ET.

Despite the order, Trump said he will still deliver his speech.

"I'm not going to let some rain stop our 250th," Trump said in a social media post.

Trump faithful flock to curtailed July 4 celebrations

The National Mall is an exposed park, though museums and other buildings are near the open, grassy area.

Crowds were building in the area several hours before Trump's speech. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, N.Y., watched three of her grandchildren dip their hands into a pool of water near a museum. Hale pointed toward the sky and urged them to look up as three military jets roared above the crowd.

Crowds were building in the area several hours before Trump's speech. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, N.Y., watched three of her grandchildren children dip their hands into a pool of water near a museum. Hale pointed toward the sky and urged them to look up as three military jets roared above the crowd.

"If that doesn't make you proud to be an American," she said.

David Koshko, 42, and his wife, Jennifer Koskho, of Harrisburg, Pa., came to Washington for a baseball game but planned to stay for the city's fireworks show. After baking in the heat for hours during the Pittsburgh Pirates' win over the Washington Nationals, they took a break in the shade of an overpass near the National Mall to plot their next stop.

"Just to be a part of the 250 years (anniversary) is an amazing thing," said David Koshko, a commercial driver and veteran of the Marine Corps reserves.

Fourth of July celebrations are unfolding across the U.S. against the backdrop of a deep divide this election year that has been expanding for years, visible in everything from political expression to cultural norms to age-old questions over race, class and immigration.

At Mount Rushmore on Friday, Trump spoke of communism as a "mortal threat to American liberty" with the Republican president saying it was more dangerous than either World War or 9/11.

Without naming Trump, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat who is also a democratic socialist and recently backed several successful congressional candidates in their primaries, appeared to reference the president during a speech Friday.

"Those ideals upon which our nation was built — they are strong enough to endure any authoritarian regime, but only if we reach for them," he said.

Vice-President JD Vance said small but loud voices would speak on America's birthday about its imperfections instead of its greatness.

"They will tell you that America is just another country, where the weak struggle against the strong," Vance said Saturday aboard the USS Kearsarge in New York Harbour.