WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump intertwined partisan politics with patriotic overtures on Saturday as he marked the 250th anniversary of American independence, calling it “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.”
In Washington, following a two-hour evacuation of the National Mall due to storms, Trump paid tribute to veterans, including World War II veterans and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in Vietnam. Flags representing pivotal and challenging moments in U.S. history were displayed, including one from Abraham Lincoln’s casket and another flown by the Wright Brothers.
In a departure from traditional unifying Independence Day speeches, Trump ventured into partisan themes, promoting the SAVE America Act, an elections bill facing opposition even from his Republican colleagues. He reiterated his support for the Second Amendment and renewed denunciations of communism, a central theme of his message leading up to the November midterms.
The speech concluded a holiday that Trump had customized to his liking. He was introduced by two musical acts from his rallies, including Lee Greenwood, who sang “God Bless America.” The event was organized by groups closely aligned with the White House, replacing the bipartisan committee initiated by Congress a decade ago.
“We will always be on top,” Trump declared. “We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.”
The anticipation for this historic holiday had been building throughout the year, offering Americans a chance to reflect on their complex history from colonial times to becoming a superpower. However, organizations planning events for months had to adapt or cancel due to extreme heat affecting much of the East Coast, with temperatures reaching or exceeding triple digits.
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Due to severe weather, celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, as well as Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania were canceled. In Boston, spectators sought shelter during a brief pause in fireworks and concert events, while Philadelphia also ordered an evacuation. Fireworks continued in New York and Pittsburgh but were rescheduled to fit the changing weather conditions.
Washington faced significant disruptions, with the Great American State Fair issuing alerts shortly after 7 p.m. ET, advising attendees to leave. Crowds took refuge in nearby museums, subway stations, and federal buildings, with many waiting in air-conditioned areas like the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
Earlier in the day, crowds had already begun gathering. Tina Hale, 58, from Cohoes, New York, watched her grandchildren play by a water feature near a museum. She pointed to the sky as military jets flew overhead, exclaiming, “If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American.”
Seth Wenig via AP Photo/Seth Wenig
David Koshko, 42, and his wife, Jennifer Koskho, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, attended a baseball game in Washington and planned to stay for the city’s fireworks display. After enduring the heat during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ victory over the Washington Nationals, they sought shade under an overpass near the National Mall to decide their next destination.
“Just to be a part of the 250 years (anniversary) is an amazing thing,” expressed David Koshko, a commercial driver and former Marine Corps reserves member.
In Philadelphia, fireworks began as early as midday near Independence Hall, the site of the Declaration of Independence’s adoption. Hundreds gathered in the intense heat, awaiting festivities linked to the France-Paraguay World Cup knockout game at Philadelphia Stadium, which featured holiday commemorations.
“It’s one big party in here,” said Carlos Alban, visiting from Chicago for the match, noting a fan dressed as a Founding Father in the parking lot.
Jae C. Hong via AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
In New York, tall ships with their masts and sails highlighted against the sky paraded around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, reminiscent of the 1976 bicentennial celebrations. The procession was followed by a display of aerial prowess including a stealth bomber and the Navy’s Blue Angels, as well as the Patrouille de France, which flew over New York Harbor trailing red, white, and blue smoke.
“We got up early and just rode our bikes about a mile down here to come see the scene,” said Oona Moore, a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey, who witnessed the New York festivities. “We saw the tall ships and we saw the planes, you know, all different manner of military aircraft. I’ve never seen it so close and in the sky at the same time.”
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, individuals took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens, standing with eyes closed and hands on hearts during the national anthem.
In Phoenix, Steven Dortch, 25, and his brother JayLn Dortch, 23, gathered at Granada Park to start a new July 4 cookout tradition. JayLn Dortch expressed optimism about young Americans who think independently and don’t take older generations’ words at face value.
He emphasized the importance of recognizing everyday, hardworking individuals who “keep America going.”
Associated Press writers Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix, Emily Wang in New York, Luis Andres Henao in Philadelphia, Kristie Rieken in Houston, Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., Safiyah Riddle in Los Angeles and Jesse Bedayn, Anna Johnson, Will Weissert and Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report.
