An immediate evacuation order was issued Saturday night for Salute to America, President Donald Trump’s much-hyped July Fourth bash on the National Mall, due to severe weather.
“The safety of our guests, performers, and staff is our top priority,” Freedom 250 Spokesperson Danielle Alvarez shared in a social media post at around 7:30 p.m. “Due to approaching severe storms, Freedom 250, United States Secret Service, United States Park Police, National Park Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and all public safety partners are asking all guests to evacuate event grounds and seek temporary shelter in a nearby building.”
The alert was issued as thousands gathered for the Great American State Fair, Trump’s expected speech, and a massive fireworks display. Announcements could be heard on loudspeakers.
The evacuation triggered pandemonium as people milled about on the grassy mall, uncertain whether to leave or wait it out. At one point, someone said “mic check” on a stage, and many who were already streaming out turned around to take up their spectator spots again, but it was false hope.
Trump tried to make out that the bad weather was a good development, insisting, “Storms bring luck to whatever the occasion.” He promised to deliver his speech, even if it happened at 2 a.m. “It’s Saturday night, LET’S HAVE SOME FUN even if we are out late.”
He reminded people: “I’m leaving the White House soon.”
As of 9:10 p.m., Freedom 250 said the president would speak at 11 p.m.
The National Park Service first issued a weather evacuation alert around 7:15 p.m., asking fireworks visitors to follow directions from park rangers, law enforcement personnel, and other event staff as they sought shelter from the weather.
About 20 minutes later, Freedom 250 organizers escalated the alert, telling attendees to immediately evacuate the event grounds and seek temporary shelter in nearby buildings.
The warning came as thunderstorms could be heard nearby.
Visitors were directed to buildings including those housing the departments of Commerce, Education and Agriculture, the Internal Revenue Service, Voice of America, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, as well as the Ronald Reagan Building, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the Freedom 250 celebrations, following the lackluster Great American State Fair and a potentially deadly heat wave that forced the event to close temporarily until 5 p.m. on Friday.
Washington, D.C.’s National Independence Day Parade on Saturday was also canceled due to an extreme heat warning, with organizers citing projected heat index values between 110 and 115 degrees.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the evacuation was expected to be lifted in time for Trump’s speech or for the fireworks, but the president posted on Truth Social at 9:05 p.m. to assure fans that he would be there.
“We will wait it out, I don’t care if it’s 2:00 O’Clock in the morning, or in one hour from now,” he said. “Looks like it is going to pass, they always do. I will be there no matter what, but the ‘what’ usually turns out to be a good thing. It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight. They say 11:00 O’Clock for the speech. Who cares???”
Officials vowed to keep the public up to date. The Daily Beast reached out to Freedom 250 and the White House for any updates.
National Park Service documents warned that the planned fireworks display, reportedly involving some 850,000 explosives, could cause “hazardous pollution“ and trigger respiratory distress and other health impacts.
The largest pyrotechnic display in history will include some 850,000 fireworks in a roughly 40-minute show that was scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m. Those watching the fireworks were encouraged to wear face masks.
