WASHINGTON — Heavy rainfall delayed President Donald Trump’s Fourth of July celebrations on Saturday on the National Mall, throwing the whole event into chaos just an hour before it was scheduled to begin.
What was billed as the “largest fireworks display in American history” featured a 40-minute fireworks display, and Trump’s speech was delayed by over 3 hours. Still, the president insisted on social media that the event would go on.
“Storms bring luck to whatever the occasion,” he wrote on Truth Social. “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. Looks like it is going to pass, they always do. I will be there no matter what, but the “what” usually turns out to be a good thing. It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight. Our great veterans, especially the old timers, many of whom are there, went through hellfire, and it didn’t stop them. It’s not going to stop us either! I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th.”
The gates to the National Mall reopened just before 10 p.m. ET, at Trump’s direction, organizers said. The reopening caused chaos for those attending to get back into the venue, just two hours after officials told attendees to evacuate and seek shelter in nearby federal buildings and museums due to “a severe thunderstorm.”
“The safety of our guests, performers, and staff is our top priority. 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,” organizers said in a social media post.
The event marked the second disruption for the 250th celebration after D.C.’s Independence Day Parade that was planned for the morning was canceled Friday night due to extreme heat.
