The 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence was celebrated Saturday evening across cities nationwide despite summer storms and delays to parts of the official program. Millions of people took part in festivities, parades, and fireworks displays to mark the occasion.
In Washington, D.C., summer storms disrupted the event, prompting security officials to ask those gathered around the Washington Monument to leave the area and seek shelter indoors. As a result, the official program was delayed for several hours.
According to Reuters, the organizing group, Freedom 250, announced that attendees were allowed back into the venue after weather conditions improved. President Donald Trump’s speech, originally scheduled for 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, began instead at 11:00 p.m.
Ahead of the event, Trump wrote on his social media platform that he would attend “under any circumstances.” He encouraged the public to participate in the celebration, even if the program continued into the late hours of the night.
Attendees waited for hours in long lines under temperatures of around 39°C (102°F) before entering the venue. The heat wave also led to the cancellation of several parades and other events in the Washington area.
In his address, Trump emphasized the history, values, and strength of the United States. During the ceremony, he also honored a number of World War II veterans who had served in the U.S. military.
The U.S. president also referred to Iran during his remarks, defending his administration’s policy toward the Islamic Republic. He claimed that U.S. armed forces had significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities and had destroyed all vessels belonging to the country’s navy. These claims were made by Trump and have not been independently verified in this report.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
