Trump Vows to Deliver Speech Despite Storm Threat During America's 250th Anniversary Celebration

U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to deliver his scheduled speech marking the nation's 250th Independence anniversary on Saturday night despite forecasts of severe weather, declaring, "No matter what happens, I'm giving the speech."

The event will proceed as planned even after thousands of people were temporarily evacuated from the National Mall due to the threat of thunderstorms. A White House official and event organizers, Freedom 250, said Trump is expected to address the crowd at 11:00 p.m., followed by a 40-minute fireworks display.

Thousands of Trump supporters gathered at the National Mall despite scorching temperatures to attend the celebration. However, authorities instructed attendees to move to safer locations after weather officials warned of possible lightning and severe storms, causing brief confusion. While many people left the area, others remained, with some chanting "Trump, Trump" as police and security personnel assisted with the evacuation.

The anniversary celebration includes several hours of military flyovers, a campaign-style political rally, and a large-scale fireworks show. Organizers have described it as one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in U.S. history.

Earlier, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying the turnout in Washington was "incredible" despite the extreme heat. Temperatures in the U.S. capital reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38 degrees Celsius) on Friday.

Among those attending was Randy Cole, a 62-year-old retired government employee, who said enduring the heat was insignificant compared to the sacrifices made by Americans for the country's independence.

Speaking about the challenging weather conditions, the 80-year-old president joked that the heat would not stop him.

"I'm going to give a very long speech just to prove that I can do everything," Trump said.

A day earlier, Trump visited the historic Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, where he delivered remarks in front of the iconic granite sculptures of four former U.S. presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt—as part of the anniversary commemorations.