Thousands of attendees at the Salute to America 250 celebration in Washington, D.C., were forced to seek shelter on Saturday evening as severe thunderstorms swept through the National Mall. NBC News correspondent Gary Grumbach reported from the Ronald Reagan Building, where guests were directed to take cover due to the threat of lightning and heavy rain. The event, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, faced significant disruptions as emergency officials urged people to move to safe locations.
President Donald Trump, who was scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the conclusion of the event, vowed to proceed with his speech despite the adverse conditions. In a phone call with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Trump stated, «I’m going through bad weather. No matter what happens, I am delivering this speech.» He drew parallels to the courage of World War II veterans, saying, «If they can storm the beaches on D-Day, I can deliver a speech and we can keep this program going.» The White House had earlier described the address as a «historic» speech celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
The severe weather caused delays in the evening’s schedule. Originally expected to take the stage at 10 p.m., Trump’s speech was pushed back to approximately 11 p.m., according to a spokesperson for Freedom 250, the event organizer. The fireworks display that was to follow was also delayed. A senior White House official noted that the timing of events might fluctuate due to the weather, but the president remained determined to deliver his remarks. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, «It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight.»
The president’s address was expected to focus on America’s history since its founding, featuring stories of American heroes. A senior White House official described it as a «unique speech unlike any other he’s given before.» Earlier in the day, Trump celebrated what he called a «stronger than ever» America in a social media post, praising the «incredible» crowds gathered in Washington despite the heat and storms. He also highlighted the air shows over the capital, saying the pilots and aircraft were «at a level never seen before.»
The weather disruptions came amid heightened security and logistical challenges for the event, which drew large crowds to the National Mall. Emergency officials urged attendees to remain in shelters until conditions improved. Freedom 250 said it would provide updates on the schedule as weather conditions developed. The event is part of a series of celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, including Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore the previous day, where he called the United States the «most exceptional nation ever to exist» and warned against the threat of communism.
Trump also addressed recent vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, calling those responsible «Vandal Thugs» and promising that the pool would be drained and repaired after the holiday weekend. The president’s remarks on Saturday night were anticipated to continue the patriotic themes of his earlier speeches, emphasizing American exceptionalism and unity. Despite the weather delays, organizers and attendees remained hopeful that the celebration would proceed as planned, with the fireworks display serving as a grand finale to the evening’s events.
