US President Donald Trump marked the 250th anniversary of the United States on Saturday with a speech hailing a new "golden age" for the nation. Speaking at the National Mall, Trump promised to take the country to "new levels" of achievement.
The event was marked by extreme weather and logistical delays. A severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching 100°F (37.8°C), forced the cancellation of the capital’s Independence Day parade earlier in the day. Later that evening, a thunderstorm delayed the president’s address by over two hours and forced a temporary evacuation of the site. Trump eventually took the stage at 11:15 PM.
The address combined patriotic themes with sharp political rhetoric. While the president introduced military veterans and the crew of the Artemis II lunar mission, he also launched partisan attacks against political opponents, labeling progressives a "communist menace". In a break from tradition for such a milestone anniversary, his living predecessors were absent from the event.
The celebrations also saw some local setbacks. A $14.7 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, intended to turn the water "American Flag blue," was thwarted by a large algae bloom that turned the water green. Despite the heat and storms, Trump praised the resilience of the crowds who returned to witness a massive fireworks display, which organizers claimed was the largest in history
