Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled July 4, 2026 speech commemorating America’s 250th anniversary of independence, event organizers order an evacuation of the National Mall as severe storms move into the Washington area. Multiple outlets report that the evacuation takes place on Saturday evening, shortly before Trump was due to address the crowds. Organizers advise people already on the Mall to move to nearby federal buildings or to go indoors at Smithsonian museums while weather conditions worsen.
Freedom 250, the event organization behind the commemoration, says it continues to provide information on programming and the reopening of doors as conditions change. Despite the evacuation, reporting indicates Trump states he will still deliver the July 4th speech, even though storm-related disruptions affect the event site. The sources also note that plans for fireworks were still being addressed as officials monitor the weather.
