Donald Trump has promised to deliver a “really long speech” at America’s 250th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, even as a historic heatwave pushes temperatures towards 107F (42C) in Washington DC. “On July 4th, it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything,” the 80‑year‑old president told crowds in North Dakota earlier this week.
The event, billed as the “Salute to America 250 Celebrations & Fireworks”, will take place on the National Mall. It features military flyovers every hour from 13:15 local time until sunset, including Trump’s new Air Force One, and a fireworks display of 850,000 shells that the president has promised will be “the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY”. Trump is due to speak at around 21:45, when temperatures are expected to have dropped to about 31C.
“Trump promises a lengthy July 4 speech in 107F heat as 850,000 fireworks mark US 250th amid record temperatures.”
But the soaring heat has already taken its toll. Earlier organised events were cancelled because of forecast high temperatures, and the “Great American State Fair” was labelled a ghost town after pictures showed sparse crowds. Security restrictions have added to the discomfort: backpacks, coolers, camping chairs, sunscreen, bug spray and umbrellas are banned, and bringing food or water bottles from outside is also forbidden. Evening thunderstorms could further disrupt proceedings.
The celebration, backed by a White House‑led public‑private partnership, has been accused by opponents of being politicised. Several music acts dropped out soon after being announced. Trump used a speech on the eve of Independence Day at Mount Rushmore to warn of a resurgence of “the communist menace” and what he called domestic “radicals” and “extremists”, claiming American identity is under threat. The remarks reflect a Republican campaign line ahead of November’s mid‑term elections, with the party seeking to brand Democrats as communists.
The president’s health has also been a subject of scrutiny during his second term, with swollen ankles, bruised hands, a neck rash and alleged mental decline reported. In late May, Trump visited Walter Reed Medical Centre for a routine check‑up, his third hospital visit in 13 months. After CT scans, heart imaging and cancer screenings carried out by 22 specialists, he was declared “fully fit” to serve.
As the nation marks 250 years since declaring independence from Britain, the combination of extreme heat, tight security and a president determined to prove his stamina leaves a question hanging over the National Mall: how many will turn up to hear a very long speech?