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Trump delivers delayed Independence Day speech to reduced crowd after storms force evacuation

Trump delivers delayed Independence Day speech to reduced crowd after storms force evacuation
30 articles·21 sources·updated 3 months ago·View in graph

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President Donald Trump delivered a delayed but defiant Independence Day address on Saturday night at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as severe storms and record heat disrupted celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. After authorities ordered a temporary evacuation of the 375,000 spectators due to lightning threats, Trump took the stage nearly two hours behind schedule, declaring that “nothing can stop us” as he blended patriotic rhetoric with sharp partisan attacks.

Speaking to a reduced crowd of roughly 150,000 who returned after the storm passed, Trump hailed America as “the crowning achievement of human history” and vowed that the country “will never be a communist country.” He repeated his calls for the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed voting bill that would require voter ID and restrict mail-in ballots, framing it as essential to preventing election fraud. “There will be no mail-in ballots, except for illness, disability, military deployment, or travel,” he said, echoing long-debunked claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

The president’s speech capped a chaotic day in the capital, where extreme heat—temperatures reached 103°F (39°C)—forced the cancellation of the traditional July 4 parade and left some attendees dehydrated. Hours before Trump’s address, hundreds of members of the neofascist group Patriot Front marched through the city chanting “reclaim America,” underscoring the political tensions surrounding the anniversary. Police reported no violence, but the presence of far-right demonstrators added to the charged atmosphere.

Trump’s address also featured a display of American military might, as he honored veterans and invited the Artemis II crew—who recently completed a historic lunar mission—to the stage. “We’re gonna do the moon, and we’re gonna go from there… we’re gonna go to Mars,” he declared, drawing applause. Yet his speech repeatedly pivoted to ideological battles, portraying domestic political opponents as existential threats. “We don’t want communists in our country,” he said. “Never worked, and it never will work.”

The president’s rhetoric mirrored his earlier remarks at Mount Rushmore on Friday, where he framed communism as the nation’s “mortal enemy” and warned that American identity was under attack. Saturday’s speech, however, came under the banner of “Freedom 250,” a government-sponsored celebration that was repeatedly upended by weather. Organizers initially canceled the parade due to heat, then evacuated the National Mall as thunderstorms approached, before reopening the area for Trump’s delayed address.

Trump’s performance drew criticism from Democrats, who accused him of politicizing a national holiday. “This is not a celebration of America—it’s a campaign rally,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, one of several progressive figures Trump has labeled as communists in recent days. The president’s approval ratings have sagged amid economic concerns and the ongoing conflict in Iran, making the anniversary a platform for his reelection messaging.

As the speech concluded just before midnight, a massive fireworks display lit up the Washington skyline, capping a day of extremes—both meteorological and political. Trump, who had promised a “really long speech,” delivered a 40-minute address, far shorter than his typical rallies. Yet his message was clear: America, he insisted, was entering a “golden age,” and his vision of the country would prevail.

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Articles

Trumps tal efter stormkaoset: Inte enkelt Storm och blixtar tvingade det massiva 4 juli-firandet i Washington DC att evakuera. Men presidenten gav sig inte. – De såg blixtar och jag sa aldrig någonsin, säger Donald Trump i sitt tal.

Trumps tal efter stormkaoset: Inte enkelt Storm och blixtar tvingade det massiva 4 juli-firandet i Washington DC att evakuera. Men presidenten gav sig inte. – De såg blixtar och jag sa aldrig någonsin, säger Donald Trump i sitt tal.

dagens nyheter · 3 months ago

USA unter Trump: Trump warnt vor Übernahme durch „Kommunisten Liveticker zur US-Politik unter Donald Trump / Trump soll republikanischen Senator angeschrien haben / Jetzt lesen im Liveticker der FAZ

USA unter Trump: Trump warnt vor Übernahme durch „Kommunisten Liveticker zur US-Politik unter Donald Trump / Trump soll republikanischen Senator angeschrien haben / Jetzt lesen im Liveticker der FAZ

faz · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump appears on National Mall for July 4 speech after storm-related delay President Donald Trump marked the 250th anniversary of the United States on Saturday with a campaign-style speech that repeated his calls for new voting restrictions, warned that "communists"…

japantoday · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Severe weather disrupts USs 250th celebrations President Trump describes milestone as one of the most joyous and glorious in USs history in campaign style speech.

aljazeera · 3 months ago

US President Donald Trump arrived hours late Saturday for his much-hyped speech on Americas 250th birthday, after severe weather forced the temporary evacuation of thousands of spectators. 
u.afp.com/SKAz

US President Donald Trump arrived hours late Saturday for his much-hyped speech on Americas 250th birthday, after severe weather forced the temporary evacuation of thousands of spectators. u.afp.com/SKAz

bluesky_AFP English · 3 months ago

🇺🇸 US President Donald Trump hailed America on its 250th birthday on Saturday as the "crowning achievement" of human history, even as he used the event to renew his attack on domestic opponents he branded communists ➡️ u.afp.com/SKdk

🇺🇸 US President Donald Trump hailed America on its 250th birthday on Saturday as the "crowning achievement" of human history, even as he used the event to renew his attack on domestic opponents he branded communists ➡️ u.afp.com/SKdk

bluesky_AFP English · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

250 Jahre USA: Unwetter verzögert Trump-Rede

orf.at · 3 months ago

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Trump again blasts communists, hails US as historys crowning achievement on 250th anniversary US President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed America as the "crowning achievement of human history" in a Fourth of July speech celebrating 250 years of US independence in Washington. Trump claimed that under his presidency, the United States was "prouder than ever before", even as he used the event to renew his attack on domestic opponents he branded "communists".

france24 · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump sluit viering 250-jarig bestaan VS af met uren uitgestelde speech De viering van het 250-jarig bestaan van de Verenigde Staten is zaterdagavond afgesloten met een vuurwerkshow en een speech van president Donald Trump in Washington. De toespraak werd uren uitgesteld vanwege noodweer.

nu.nl · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump vill försena miljonbetalningen 2023 dömdes Donald Trump att betala över 48 miljoner kronor till E Jean Carroll.Den betalningen har fortfarande inte skett. Nu försöker Trump återigen skjuta upp betalningen. 

expressen · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump blasts communists in speech to mark Americas 250th anniversary US President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed America as the "crowning achievement of human history" in a speech celebrating 250 years of US independence in Washington. Trump claimed that under his presidency the United States was "prouder than ever before", even as he used the event to renew his attack on domestic opponents he branded "communists".

france24 · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Unwetter bremste Trump-Rede Nicht ganz nach Plan, aber dennoch pompös sind am Samstag die offiziellen Feiern zum 250-Jahr-Jubiläum in den USA abgelaufen: Ein schweres Unwetter verzögerte zunächst die Rede von US-Präsident Donald Trump in Washington, die dann entgegen den Ankündigungen doch verhältnismäßig kurz war. Trump warnte darin erneut vor dem Kommunismus und beschwor den Patriotismus. Im ganzen Land beeinträchtigte vor allem die Hitze viele Feiern, es gab dennoch viele Feuerwerke.

orf.at · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump gives campaign-style July 4 speech on National Mall for US 250th anniversary President Donald Trump marked the 250th anniversary of the United States on Saturday with a campaign-style speech that repeated his calls for new voting restrictions, warned that communists could gain ground in the country and cycled through what he touted as his achievements. After a storm-related delay of nearly two hours, Trump appeared on the […]

cyprus mail · 3 months ago

250 Jahre USA: Ein historischer Abriss voller Superlative Am 250. Geburtstag der USA lief in Washington nicht alles nach Plan. Schuld daran war vor allem das Wetter. Donald Trump gab sich ungewohnt zahm.

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faz · 3 months ago

Fireworks light up Washington sky for Americas 250th anniversary A fireworks display illuminated the National Mall in Washington as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence.

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euronews · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

USA feieren 250 Jahre Unabhängigkeit: Trump will USA gegen Kommunisten verteidigen Unterbrochen von Extremhitze und Unwetter feiert Donald Trump in Washington das 250-jährige Bestehen der USA. Demokraten werfen ihm vor, das Land zu spalten. mehr...

taz.de · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump addresses National Mall July 4 rally after weather delay US President Donald Trump delivered a delayed speech at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., after severe weather disrupted celebrations marking the US National Day and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Authorities had earlier recommended a temporary evacuation of the area due to an incoming thunderstorm. Gathered crowds were instructed to leave […]

in-cyprus · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump talade efter evakuering av USA-firande Ett massivt firande av den 4 juli i parken National Mall i Washington evakuerades på grund av en åskstorm. Det skedde bara timmar innan USA:s president Donald Trump väntades hålla ett tal där.– Vi kan inte bli avskräckta, sade Trump när han inledde talet senare än planerat.

svenska dagbladet · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump blasts communists, celebrates the US in 250th anniversary speech US President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed America as the "crowning achievement of human history", in his speech in Washington. Trump claimed that under his presidency the United States was "prouder than ever before, even as he used the event to renew his attack on domestic opponents he branded communists.

france24 · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump lauds Americans in storm-delayed 250th anniversary speech President Trump has praised Americans as a historic and heroic people, in a speech on the nations 250th anniversary.

aljazeera · 3 months ago

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digi24 · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Donald Trump defies storms and heatwave to deliver July 4 address President eulogises forebears and eviscerates enemies at Lincoln Memorial on 250th anniversary of independence

financial times · 3 months ago

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Han kom inn på flere velkente temaer. Blant annet sine politiske motstandere som han kaller kommunister.
– Kommunismen er en taper og det vil den alltid være. Det har aldri fungert, sa Trump.
Trump fikk blant annet en rekke krigsveteraner fraktet inn ved scenen. Noen av dem var over 100 år gamle veteraner fra andre verdens krig.

Trump 250-årstale utsatt på grunn av uvær Etter flere timers utsettelse på grunn av uvær i Wahington DC holdt USAs president Donald Trump sin tale til nasjonen i anledning 250 årsjubileet for løsrivelsen fra Storbritannia. Han kom inn på flere velkente temaer. Blant annet sine politiske motstandere som han kaller kommunister. – Kommunismen er en taper og det vil den alltid være. Det har aldri fungert, sa Trump. Trump fikk blant annet en rekke krigsveteraner fraktet inn ved scenen. Noen av dem var over 100 år gamle veteraner fra andre verdens krig.

nrk · 3 months ago

Trump hails golden age of America in speech to commemorate nations 250th anniversary

Trump hails golden age of America in speech to commemorate nations 250th anniversary

bluesky_The Guardian · 3 months ago

July 4 live: Trump rants about communism in delayed America 250 speech before he joins Melania to watch fireworks There was chaos on the National Mall as Freedom 250 attendees tried to return following an evacuation due to severe weather

July 4 live: Trump rants about communism in delayed America 250 speech before he joins Melania to watch fireworks There was chaos on the National Mall as Freedom 250 attendees tried to return following an evacuation due to severe weather

independent · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump appears on National Mall for July 4 speech after storm-related delay After a storm-related delay, U.S. President Donald Trump took the stage on the National Mall on Saturday to deliver a campaign-style speech to mark the ‌countrys 250th anniversary.…

japantoday · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

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japantoday · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

Trump delivers July 4 address after storms disrupt independence celebrations President took the stage at Lincoln Memorial as extreme heat and thunderstorms complicated 250th anniversary events

financial times · 3 months ago

Gewitter in Washington – Chaos bei Evakuierung, Trump hält Rede verspätet Das von Donald Trump angekündigte Spektakel anlässlich des 250. Geburtstags der USA fällt kurzzeitig dem Wetter zum Opfer. Wegen eines Gewitters wurde die National Mall zwischenzeitlich geschlossen.

Gewitter in Washington – Chaos bei Evakuierung, Trump hält Rede verspätet Das von Donald Trump angekündigte Spektakel anlässlich des 250. Geburtstags der USA fällt kurzzeitig dem Wetter zum Opfer. Wegen eines Gewitters wurde die National Mall zwischenzeitlich geschlossen.

welt.de · 3 months ago

Live From Europe

250 Jahre USA: Zentrale 250-Jahr-Feier in Washington, D.C. unterbrochen Ein Unwetter hat die Geburtstags-Feierlichkeiten in den USA gestört. Donald Trumps Rede ist auf die Nacht verschoben worden. In Philadelphia wurde eine Parade abgesagt.

die zeit · 3 months ago