Triple-digit temperatures have forced organizers to cancel Washington, D.C.’s Independence Day, the latest disruption to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations after the Donald Trump-backed Great American State Fair temporarily closed over extreme heat.
Heat-related injuries and temporary closures at the Freedom 250 fair on the National Mall followed a series of mishaps plaguing the president’s chaotic preparations for the Fourth of July.
After a dark speech against “godless” communists from the foot of Mount Rushmore on Thursday night, the president has promised to deliver a “really long” speech at 9:45 p.m. to cap off the day’s celebrations under sweltering temperatures.
He has promised an even greater fireworks show to follow.
In a late-night speech from Mount Rushmore, the president noted the success of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln while using the monument as a backdrop to his remarks.
He warned against “newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success” and swiped at Democratic officials he baselessly accused of being “godless” and “evil” communists.
“Communism is the exact opposite of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “It’s death, tyranny and the pursuit of evil.”
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Key Points
- DC's Independence Day parade is canceled
- Trump paints his political foes as 'godless Communists' in Mount Rushmore speech
- Trump brags about second amendment rights
- Trump talked about military success during his speech
- Seven people needed 'advanced' care at Trump's State Fair on Friday
Watch: Vance pans 'small but loud voices' who call out 'national imperfections'
17:10 , Alex Woodward.@VP: "You will hear a couple small but loud voices today speak obsessively not of our national greatness, but of our national imperfections... They will tell you that America is just another country where the weak struggle against the strong, and if they acknowledge that there… pic.twitter.com/ZcyJS65p9R
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 4, 2026
JD Vance tells Americans to 'reject' the 'two-dimensional' criticism of country's imperfections
17:00 , Alex WoodwardVice President JD Vance condemned what he called “small voices” who point out what Vance admitted are the “very real imperfections” in the nation’s history as the country celebrates its 250th anniversary.
“They’ll talk about America’s sins with the anger and zeal of a brimstone preacher,” he said from New York City. “These people misunderstand the essence of America.”
He called on his “fellow Americans” to “reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens.”
“Reject that America is a place for zero-sum thinking because it is not,” said Vance, describing the country’s founding as “carving out civilization from the wilderness.”
He didn’t name names, but his remarks follow an address from the city’s mayor Zohran Mamdani that have outraged Trump’s allies and right-wing media pundits.
In an address on Friday, the mayor emphasized the nation’s diversity and role of immigrants in shaping the nation around the principles established in the Constitution while also recognizing the “nation of contrasts” — ICE targeting immigrants as communities band together around them and the role of workers in the country’s history against billionaires who exploit them, for example.
Mamdani trolls Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda in July 4 address from Washington’s desk
In image: White nationalist group Patriot Front assembles in DC for July 4
16:45 , Alex WoodwardPatriot Front, a white nationalist neo-fascist group formed in the aftermath of the violent Unite the Right rally in 2017, is assembling in Washington, D.C. this morning as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
JD Vance hails America's naval might and Constitution's endurance in remarks from New York
16:35 , Alex WoodwardVice President JD Vance, speaking from Manhattan, noted that the landscape looked “very, very different” when George Washington was in the same place with his gaze “fixed on the horizon for sails on the most powerful navy” more than 250 years ago.
“War was coming and everyone knew it,” he said as he recalled thousands of British troops descending on the fledgling nation.
Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Washington read the document that has “stirred our hearts and reminded us who we are as a people” to his troops, Vance said.
To his troops, the document “was entirely new … they had never heard those words before,” he said.
“It was written for the people of this fledgling country,” he said. “As a document, it does not handhold its readers ... It does not pause to explain who this ‘creator’ is or ‘what equality of men’ means ... It simply declares ‘these truths to be self evident.’”
America's newest citizens sworn in for 250th annversary
16:30 , Alex WoodwardThe U.S. routinely holds naturalization ceremonies across the country around the Fourth of July to welcome America’s newest citizens.
Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia plantation home Monticello hosted a ceremony this morning to swear in the latest group of new citizens on the country’s 250th anniversary.
“Please know, you are all welcome,” Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon told the group on Saturday morning.
The event marked the landmark’s 64th annual naturalization ceremony.
“Some of you may have come the the United States for a better life, some for a job, some for family, some for education, some for love and some for freedom,” she added.
“Some of you may have lived here for a lifetime and others may have arrived more recently. Some may have come from free countries where you transition was one of choice and others may have risked your lives to flee a country where there is no freedom and no choice.”
Beyoncé marks Fourth of July with first new song in two years
16:15 , Tom MurrayBeyonce has announced the release of “MORNING DEW (DONK),” her first new song in two years.
Beyoncé marks Fourth of July with first new song in two years
Today's lineup at the Great American State Fair
16:00 , Alex WoodwardThe Trump-backed Freedom 250 Great American State Fair has been plagued by low turnout, falling-apart stages and displays, and extreme heat that reportedly sent several people to urgent medical care.
The gates are opening at noon today rather than 10 a.m.
Here’s the lineup:
It’s Independence Day, and we have so much in store for you today. Come celebrate at the Great American State Fair.
12:00 PM — General Ondra Berry and Liberty Dogs, a presentation on the bond between service animals and those they support, at Freedom Stage
12:45 PM — The… pic.twitter.com/8FNztFy7Q6
Seven people needed 'advanced' care at Trump's State Fair on Friday
15:45 , Alex WoodwardAt least seven people who attended the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair on Friday needed “advanced life support,” according to CNN.
The lightly attended event was forced to close for a few hours after temperatures hit triple digits.
CNN’s Brian Todd reported Friday that those seven people most likely needed aid because of heat-related issues.
Eleven people had to be taken to the hospital and 44 sought medical care while attending the fair on Friday, according to the outlet.
Trump kicks off America’s 250th with dead of night memes trolling foes as Pee-wee Herman and Alfred E. Neuman
15:20 , Alex WoodwardAfter using Mount Rushmore as a backdrop for a dark Independence Day eve speech that cast his political enemies as “godless” communists, the president popped on Truth Social to post memes of two prominent Democrats as Pee-wee Herman and the gap-toothed mascot for Mad magazine.
Trump kicks off America’s 250th comparing foes to Pee-wee Herman and Alfred E. Neuman
Analysis: Trump enters America's 250th more powerful than ever
15:10 , Alex WoodwardDonald Trump possesses more presidential power than any of his predecessors in generations.
That power, according to legal scholars and several Supreme Court justices, goes beyond the scope of the monarchy from which Americans fought to liberate themselves.
Empowered by a Supreme Court increasingly drawn into his administration’s legal crusades, and unmoored from a Republican-controlled Congress uninterested in checks and balances, the president enters the next chapter of U.S. history testing how far the country has come since then.
Read more:
Trump marks 250 years since the American Revolution holding more power than ever
Watch live: JD Vance participates in International Naval Review as part of America's 250th anniversary
15:00 , Alex WoodwardDC's Independence Day parade is canceled
14:50 , Alex WoodwardWashington, D.C.’S annual Independence Day is canceled due to “extreme heat” in the nation’s capital, organizers announced.
“The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the District of Columbia, with heat index values expected to reach between 110°F and 115°F. This decision was made after extensive and careful consideration of the safety of our participants, spectators, and staff as the top priority,” according to a statement from organizers.
The White House-backed Freedom 250 also is delaying the opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. The fair will re-open at noon instead of 10 a.m. after closing temporarily on Friday due to triple-digit temperatures.
Bill Clinton warns against ‘serious threats’ to democracy under Trump in July 4 statement
14:20 , Alex WoodwardIn a message commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary of its independence, Former President Bill Clinton said the country recognizes the milestone “amid another period of deep division, renewed questions about America’s future and role in the world, and serious threats to our own institutions and to our democracy itself.”
His mentioned Trump’s anti-immigration campaign, war in Iran and retribution campaign against his political enemies.
“The people in charge have unleashed masked agents on American communities to seize people from their homes, workplaces, and the street,” he wrote.
“They have started an unconstitutional war on a whim, with no clear objectives or exit strategy, and zero regard for the consequences to the lives of millions of people around the world,” Clinton continued.
“With the help of lifetime appointees to the Supreme Court and a compliant Congress, they have weaponized government to settle personal scores, prosecute enemies, stamp out free speech, and made the federal government a new profit center for themselves and their allies,” he added.
“Their New Deal is socialism for the super-rich (and their own enrichment) even if it means increasing poverty, inequality, and illness at home and around the world. They also want to rewrite history to ignore and outright deny our past flaws while banning books that say otherwise from our libraries. And they select even our military leaders based on their version of political correctness over ability.”
Trump paints his political foes as 'godless Communists' in Mount Rushmore speech
13:48 , Neil SloaneIn his speech at Mount Rushmore, President Donald Trump targeted recent far-left Democratic primary election winners using rhetoric not heard since the Cold War.
Calling communism “the enemy of July 4, 1776,” he went on to declare: “Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11."
“You can be loyal to Karl Marx or you can be loyal to America. You can be a communist or you can be a patriot. You cannot be both,” Trump said.
“It’s death, tyranny, and the pursuit of evil. The godless communist morality states that anything is justified to bring about inhuman visions and to really propose what’s good. They don’t want good, they don’t love God and they don’t want God, they don’t love religion and they don’t want religion and they won’t have it. But we will not let them win.”
He did not name any Democrats specifically but the comments come after a week of railing about a resurgence of Communism after NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s slate of three insurgent socialist-backed challengers pulled off upsets.
See the scene from Donald Trump's speech at Mount Rushmore
13:47 , Alex Lang
Trump brags about second amendment rights
12:52 , Alex LangPresident Donald Trump spent most of his Friday night speech from Mount Rushmore discussing the strength of America and its past. He also addressed the nation’s Constitution, saying it is only as strong as the people upholding it.
“The United States of America will always be the land of free men and women, and we will never ever fail,” Trump said.
Americans love freedom and cherish independence, Trump said. He said that citizens do not need permission to say what they want, worship how they choose and to keep guns. The president then claimed his administration has saved Second Amendment rights.
“Americans believe in self-reliance,” Trump said. “We look at success not with envy…with admiration and we will always earn it.”
ICMYI: Shocking July 4 poll finds nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on America’s 250th
12:19 , Alex LangNearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on the Fourth of July, according to a shocking poll and reported by Rhian Lubin.
July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but 46 percent of Americans and 61 percent of Gen Zers couldn’t tell you that, the Cato Institute's national survey found.
Nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on July 4, poll finds
Family behind today's 'record-setting' fireworks speaks out
11:11 , Alex LangThe family behind the planned July 4 fireworks in Washington, D.C., has spoken out about the effort to put on the show.
"I mean, it is the biggest show that we've done," Rocco Vitale, president of Pyrotecnico, told CBS. "My earliest memories of fireworks displays and doing the Fourth of July was here."
The family started planning the show in January. President Donald Trump has said it will be "record-setting" with the number of fireworks that explode. The 40-minute spectacle with 850,000 individual fireworks is expected to begin around 10:45 p.m.
Trump talked about military success during his speech
10:09 , Alex LangAs President Donald Trump spoke from Mount Rushmore on Friday night, he highlighted the U.S. and its military strength. Trump noted that the U.S. had won two World Wars and the Cold War.
Then he turned his attention to the conflicts since he returned to the White House.
“We beat Venezuela in one day,’ he said. Then Trump addressed his recent attacks on Iran and the ongoing peace talks. “And we knocked the hell out of Iran, they are dying to settle. They want to settle so badly.”
Seven people needed 'advanced' care at Trump's State Fair on Friday
09:02 , Alex LangAt least seven people who attended the Great American State Fair on Friday needed 'advanced life support,' CNN reported.
On Friday, temperatures at the state fair hit triple digits. The lightly attended event was even forced to close for a few hours because of the heat.
CNN's Brian Todd noted that the seven people most likely needed aid because of heat-related issues, as reported by Mediaite. Overall, 11 people had to be taken to the hospital, and 44 sought medical care while attending the fair on Friday.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins trolls Trump by reporting on the state fair in the middle of an empty National Mall
08:00 , Sophie ClarkCNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins trolled President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair by showing just how few people showed up to the weeks-long event.
Collins was filmed standing on the National Mall Thursday among a sparse crowd.
“For a president who often fixates on crowd size, so far the fair on Washington’s National Mall hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype,” the CNN host said.
Read on...
CNN trolls Trump by reporting on the state fair at empty National Mall
New $400m Air Force One has a new addition for July 4
07:15 , Rachel DobkinThe new Air Force One, a $400 million plane gifted to the U.S. by Qatar, has a new addition for the Fourth of July – an American flag.
“Flag on the top of Air Force One in honor of America’s 250th Birthday!!!” President Donald Trump’s communications adviser Margo Martin wrote on X alongside a video of the flag flying in the wind.
Top Republican tells anyone who criticizes America to get out
06:30 , Rachel DobkinA top House Republican has a stark message for anyone who criticizes America: “You can go to Europe.”
Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan, who serves as the House Republican Conference chair, raved about the rights afforded by the American democratic system, and then told people who favor communism to get out in an interview with Newsmax Thursday.
“The Constitution is the envy of the world. People risk their lives to come to America because of what we have — capitalism. We have a democracy. We have freedom of speech. We have love of country,” she said on the National Report.
“For the people in our country, who want to turn this country into a communist country. Leave. You’re free to leave. The beauty about America is, you can leave!” McClain said. “Go to Europe where they’re experiencing this heat wave and they don’t have any air condition[ing]. See how well that works for you.”
Read on...
Top Republican tells anyone who criticizes America to get out: ‘You can go to Europe’
In pictures: People brave the heat to visit Great American State Fair
05:45 , Rachel Dobkin
Trump loses again after appeals court orders ICE to hold bond hearings for deportees
05:00 , Alex WoodwardDonald Trump’s administration capped off a streak of significant legal victories in his anti-immigrant campaign with a major loss in the government’s attempts to detain thousands of immigrants while they fight against their deportation from the country.
A panel of judges on a notorious conservative federal appeals court has ruled that people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention must be granted a bond hearing before a judge within 90 days of their arrest.
The ruling marks at least the fourth such federal court order striking down a chief component of the administration’s attempts to swiftly detain and deport tens of thousands of people from the country before they’ve had their day in court, which civil rights groups and immigration lawyers have called stark violations of due process rights.
Trump loses again after appeals court orders ICE to hold bond hearings for deportees
Trump ends his Mount Rushmore speech
04:40 , Alex LangTrump has now concluded his speech from Mount Rushmore.
“After 250 years American freedom still rings. The American dream still lives and the American still flies more proudly than ever before,” Trump said. “Over the people who have not quit. The nation that will not fail. The country that will not fall. No matter how hard the enemy tries we can not be beaten.”
Trump slams communism
04:31 , Alex LangTrump hit a recent familiar refrain as he blasted communists, who he says include illegal migrants and people who don’t want to work.
“America will never be a communist country,” Trump said. “We can only lose the midterm if we allow ourselves to the midterms.”
The president’s speech started off by highlighting America, but he is now speaking on several of his common topics in recent weeks. He blasted communists - something he has said since progressives won several recent primary elections. He also spoke of passing his voting -rights act.
“On the eve of this 250th anniversary of American history, we resolve and swear for all to hear to vanquish communism quickly,” Trump said.
See Donald Trump speaking from Mount Rushmore
04:13 , Alex Lang
Trump now speaking from Mount Rushmore
04:08 , Alex LangPresident Donald Trump is now speaking from Mount Rushmore as he kicks off a day of July 4 celebrations across America.
“This is a big crowd, this is a lovely crowd, and what a sight it is,” Trump said.
Trump noted that on Saturday the country would celebrate 250 years of independence.
“At 250 years, America is the oldest Republic on Earth. We are the freest people on Earth,” Trump said. “We are the strongest and most powerful country on Earth.”
Watch: Bernie Sanders warns US is on the brink of a 'political revolution' ahead of July Fourth
04:00 , Rachel DobkinTrump's speech will boast about 'most exceptional nation in history': report
03:00 , Rachel DobkinDonald Trump is set to give a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota Friday night, where he will boast about the “most exceptional nation in history,” a spokesperson for the president told NBC News.
“President Trump will deliver a major address making clear what the world already knows: the United States is the greatest, strongest, and most exceptional nation in history,” the spokesperson said.
Watch: Trump flies over Mount Rushmore in Air Force One
02:50 , Rachel DobkinAIR FORCE ONE FLIES OVER MT. RUSHMORE — KICKING OFF AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZDLy38ZvNi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 4, 2026
Air Force One flies over Mount Rushmore
02:41 , Rachel Dobkin
