On the 250th Anniversary of Independence.. Trump: We Will Not Allow America to Fall

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed that the United States will not allow its downfall or decline, during a speech delivered to crowds at the "National Mall" in Washington, marking the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence, following a delay caused by severe thunderstorms that temporarily evacuated the celebration site.

Trump began his speech by emphasizing that bad weather would not prevent him from appearing before his supporters, stating: "I want to thank everyone for doing the right thing. They saw the lightning, and I said that even if we had to talk in front of one person at four in the morning, I would be here. We cannot be deterred."

Trump's remarks came after authorities had to evacuate tens of thousands from the "National Mall" due to the approach of severe thunderstorms. The U.S. Secret Service later subjected those returning to the site to security checks, causing long lines and difficulties for many in returning.

Trump expressed his regret for those who left and could not return, adding: "You are very special people, and we have a very special country."

Despite acknowledging that the delay was "uncomfortable," the U.S. president sought to frame the storm as part of the extraordinary scene of the celebration, stating: "This is an evening that will go down in history. I think this is something very special."

He added that the sight of lightning made the occasion, despite the confusion it caused, "bigger" and "more beautiful in its own way."

Before the speech began, Trump had confirmed his intention to proceed with the appearance, regardless of how long it took for the storm to subside, writing on his platform "Truth Social": "Storms bring luck no matter the occasion. They also make events a bit more exciting."

He added: "We will wait for the storm to pass, I don’t care if that’s at two in the morning," stressing: "I will be there no matter the circumstances."

Authorities had requested the crowds to leave the celebration site hours before the speech, as strong winds blew and lightning flashed in the sky of the U.S. capital, while reporters from Agence France-Presse reported chaos during the evacuation, with some attendees refusing to leave and others trying to return, shouting "Trump.. Trump."

The 250th anniversary celebrations of the U.S. independence coincided with a severe heat wave sweeping large areas of the East Coast, forcing organizers of events in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia to modify or cancel scheduled programs.

In Washington, temperatures reached around 39 degrees Celsius, while the apparent heat index ranged between 43 and 46 degrees, before the thunderstorms added a new challenge to the events.

Despite the weather disruptions, all fifty U.S. states saw parties, festivals, historic displays, and fireworks, in a commemoration set against a complex domestic backdrop, intertwining the celebration of a quarter millennium since the country’s founding with pressures from the cost of living, the war with Iran, and sharp political polarization.

A massive fireworks display, described as unprecedented, is scheduled to follow Trump’s speech over Washington, with approximately 850,000 pyrotechnics launched from ten locations extending from around the Lincoln Memorial basin to pontoons in the Potomac River and West Potomac Park.

Trump is clearly putting his mark on the 250th-anniversary celebrations, presenting the occasion as a milestone for defending American identity and the future of the country, at a time when divisions regarding his political vision and the course of the United States in the upcoming period continue.