The 250th anniversary celebration ambitiously planned by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been disrupted by severe weather. Extreme heat approaching 40 degrees Celsius, combined with thunderstorms, halted events in multiple locations. The status of a massive fireworks show set to break a Guinness World Record has also become uncertain.
Severe thunderstorms swept through the Washington, D.C. area, according to the Financial Times on Friday. Officials hosting the 250th anniversary commemoration on the National Mall directed visitors to evacuate. Police authorities said they were "halting entry to the venue due to a dangerous storm," and "urged people to evacuate to nearby museums or government agencies."
Washington had been sweltering under a heat wave exceeding about 38 degrees Celsius for several days, until 6 p.m. that day. It recorded the hottest weather of any Independence Day holiday on record. The "Great American State Fair" and evening events had originally been scheduled to take place on the National Mall, but all were halted.
Security restrictions that allowed only water to be brought in also posed a problem. In previous years, coolers and picnic food were permitted, but this year only a single small transparent bag was allowed after passing through security screening. Water could be brought in, but metal and glass containers and tumblers were banned. As temperatures rose above 38 degrees Celsius, some people collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration. Ultimately, local parades and related events on Independence Day were canceled, and the Great American State Fair was also temporarily closed.
Whether the events will resume remains uncertain. But President Trump said, "We will wait," adding, "It doesn't matter whether it's 2 a.m. or an hour from now."
That evening, President Trump is set to deliver a speech at the Lincoln Memorial to cap off the event. "Temperatures are expected to rise to about 42 degrees Celsius, but I will give a very long speech to show that I can do anything," he said. The event is scheduled to conclude late at night with a show of 850,000 fireworks following President Trump's speech. It is a scale that will break the Guinness World Record.
Meanwhile, Japan on Thursday held a drone show in Tokyo depicting the faces of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Trump to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. This sparked controversy on social media, with some netizens mocking it.
