With storms rolling over Washington and political tensions simmering beneath the bunting, US President Donald Trump marked America’s 250th birthday by calling the United States the “crowning achievement” of human history — while again taking aim at domestic opponents he portrayed as communists.
Mr Trump’s address was pushed back by several hours after severe weather forced authorities to temporarily clear crowds from the National Mall. When he finally took the stage, the 80-year-old Republican said the country was “prouder than ever before” under his presidency.
He had telegraphed a massive rally-like moment to imprint his brand on the milestone. But for much of the roughly 45-minute speech — short by his standards — Mr Trump leaned on familiar patriotic themes and tributes, telling tens of thousands gathered near the Washington Monument: “For two-and-a-half centuries, our American republic has stood as the crowning achievement of human history.”
He saluted veterans of World War II as well as those who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Yet the tone shifted as he pointed to the latter two conflicts as examples in a broader fight against “communists,” echoing remarks he made Friday night at the Mount Rushmore monument.
“Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the word, only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. We’re not going to let it happen,” he said.
Donald Trump’s speech was delayed by several hours due to storms
A huge fireworks display began after the speech
Mr Trump has returned repeatedly to that theme ahead of November’s US midterm elections, as the anti-establishment left wing of the Democratic Party has notched a series of primary victories.
“It’s like a cancer, you’ve got to cut it out,” he added.
He also used the anniversary stage to tout recent US military campaigns against Iran and Venezuela, saying Washington had “wiped out” Tehran’s military.
Supporters in the crowd praised the message and the setting. “We love Trump, we loved his speech,” said Richard Sullivan, 70, who came from Virginia with his wife, Nancy.
“He went through our great history and had a word for the veterans that were here. He makes us proud to be American,” he added.
After Mr Trump finished, a huge fireworks display lit up the sky — one he said would set a record as the world’s largest.
Across the eastern United States, Americans endured a blistering heatwave while marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776.
In Washington, the temperature hit 39.4C — the highest ever recorded in the capital on 4 July — as 160 million Americans were under extreme weather warnings, according to the National Weather Service.
Unsettled conditions also reshaped celebrations elsewhere: fireworks in New York were moved earlier, and evacuations were reported at a concert in Philadelphia and at a Charles River event in Boston.
A passenger looks on as members of Patriot Front ride the Washington Metro
The weather directly disrupted Mr Trump’s appearance, too. Several hours before he spoke, tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave the National Mall because of approaching thunderstorms.
Authorities later permitted attendees back onto an open field near the Washington Monument, after spectators had spent hours sheltering in nearby museums and government buildings.
As many people moved toward exits, confusion flared when others resisted leaving or tried to surge back in. AFP reporters described hearing shouts of “charge” and “Trump, Trump”.
Mr Trump said he would proceed regardless, telling Fox News that if D-Day veterans could withstand harsh conditions during World War II, then he could handle bad weather.
“Experiencing a little heat is a lot less than what a lot of people sacrifice to give us this freedom in this awesome country,” said Randy Cole, 62, a retired civil servant who attended the Washington festivities.
Still, Mr Trump’s insistence on placing himself and his political identity at the center of the 250th anniversary spotlight has underscored the divisions that have intensified during his second term.
Those fault lines were visible near Capitol Hill, where masked men gathered — some carrying Confederate flags, others wearing logos associated with the white supremacist group Patriot Front.
Patriot Front said on social media it had arrived in Washington, and hundreds wearing the group’s outfits rode Metro trains serving the District of Columbia region.
Local police said they had received no reports of violence.
Freedom 250 says the fair aims to showcase what makes the US ‘the greatest nation on Earth’
Historically, US presidents have often avoided appearing in person at 4 July events, but Mr Trump has increasingly blurred the boundary between official national observances and campaign-style politics.
The Trump administration’s Freedom 250 group has largely displaced a nonpartisan commission created in 2016 to plan for the anniversary. It has fenced off large sections of the 2.4km National Mall to host a Great American State Fair, featuring a Ferris wheel and exhibits from conservative groups and defence contractors.
Freedom 250 says the fair is meant to highlight the people and innovations that make the United States “the greatest nation on Earth”.
Several states led by Democrats declined to participate with official delegations, and multiple performers scheduled to take part withdrew, citing concerns about partisanship.
Other Freedom 250-branded events include a faith rally dominated by conservative Christian speakers and a series of sports-related promotions — among them a card of mixed martial arts fights staged on White House grounds for Mr Trump’s 80th birthday on 14 June.
An Indy Car race in Washington is set for August.
Freedom 250 has also funded “Freedom Trucks,” which critics argue present an overly religious version of US history while downplaying slavery and racial injustice.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found most Americans believe the 250th anniversary celebrations have become too political, including three-quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans.
Mr Trump has also pursued sweeping changes around the capital in the run-up to the anniversary, producing uneven outcomes.
While a number of fountains and statues have been refurbished, a heavily promoted $15 million overhaul of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool has been plagued by problems.
Security cameras and soldiers now stand watch over the site’s peeling paint and algae-fouled water.
For many Americans, the 250th anniversary is not only a day of commemoration but also a prompt for self-examination.
A Quinnipiac University Poll found 61% of Americans said the United States was not living up to the ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence.
