US marks its 250th birthday with fireworks, flyovers and extreme weather
Trump's remarks - where he hit on recent political themes of rejecting communism, Save America Act legislation he favors and the right to bear arms
Trump's remarks - where he hit on recent political themes of rejecting communism, Save America Act legislation he favors and the right to bear arms - wrapped up just before midnight at the Freedom 250 event. "Long live the cause of independence," he said. "May it reign forever and ever and ever, we will always be on top, we will never let our country fall, we will always be the best." Upon closing, he told the crowd, "this is only the dawn of the golden age of America" with its destiny "written by God".
The grande finale of the fireworks show was marked by a massive flurry of blasts - reaching a much anticipated crescendo. As it concluded around 1am, the small crowd on Capitol Hill cheered and rapidly started heading for the exits in a light rain. The celebration, which included a flyover - one featuring the new Air Force One jet - a concert - as well as the speech and fireworks was delayed by a thunderstorm that forced an evacuation of the Mall in the early evening.
Freedom 250 asked guests in the area attending Salute to America, the Great American State Fair and Fifa fan zone events to seek temporary shelter in a nearby buildings. Throughout the day, the capital had broiled under 100F (37C) temperatures - part of a larger heat wave enveloping the eastern US. Also in Washington, about 400 members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front were seen carrying US flags while marching in unison through the streets of the capital.
Videos posted to social media and the group's own Telegram channel showed the masked, uniformed members marching near the Capitol building and Union Station, the city's main passenger rail hub. The group was founded in 2017 following violence at the Unite the Right rally in Virginia, breaking off from another group.
The BriefWire