July 4 live: Trump heads for Mount Rushmore after heat shuts down his state fair
President Donald Trump has headed to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota to kick off celebrations for the July 4 weekend after severe heat shut down his state fair in Washington.
Triple-digit temperatures forced the Trump-backed Freedom 250 to shut down the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, the latest blow to the president’s chaotic preparations for the nation’s anniversary celebrations.
The incident marks the latest in a series of mishaps surrounding the administration’s plans for America’s 250th birthday, from the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turning green from algae to the sparse crowds, collapsing stages and oozing infrastructure at the state fair-inspired event.
Trump will give remarks at Mount Rushmore Friday night before a large fireworks display, an event environmentalists have warned could spark wildfires.
The president will then return to D.C., where he has pledged to deliver a “really long” speech late Saturday night with sweltering temperatures. He has promised an even greater fireworks show to follow, but has not explained who is paying for it.
Also on Friday, Trump appeared on Second Lady Usha Vance’s Storytime podcast where he flipped through a children’s book about the presidents and commented on each of them.
Great American State Fair opening delayed on July 4 amid extreme heat
The Great American State Fair will open two hours later than planned on Saturday amid extreme heat in Washington, D.C.
“The Great American State Fair and the FIFA Fan Zone will now open at 12:00 PM (instead of 10:00 AM),” event organizers wrote on X.
“With warm temperatures expected, guests are encouraged to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, apply sunscreen, take breaks in the shade, utilize cooling areas, and look out for family and friends.”
Hailstorm at Mount Rushmore is expected to 'blow over': report
A hailstorm at Mount Rushmore that has upended its celebration of America’s 250th birthday is expected to “blow over,” CNN’s Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny reported.
President Donald Trump is en route to South Dakota to give a speech at Mount Rushmore.
“President Trump is still planning on flying that new Air Force One over Mount Rushmore,” Zeleny said, adding, “Thousands of admirers have taken shelter as much as they can here.”
'Half-dollar sized' hail at Mount Rushmore as Trump is en route to South Dakota: report
There is “half-dollar sized” hail at Mount Rushmore, Newsmax’s Mike Carter has reported.
President Donald Trump is en route to South Dakota for a speech to kick off celebrations for the July 4 weekend. After his speech, there is supposed to be a large fireworks show.
Shelter-in-place warning issued at Mount Rushmore ahead of Trump's speech
As if the state fair shutdown in Washington, D.C., due to severe heat wasn’t enough, there’s now a shelter-in-place warning at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, where President Donald Trump is set to give a speech later tonight.
This is the second shelter-in-place warning that has been issued at Mount Rushmore today, this time because of hail, NBC News reported.
The preshow to Trump’s event has been paused.
It comes after a shelter-in-place at around 4:30 p.m. ET due to lightning strikes within a few miles, according to the outlet.
Trump's Mount Rushmore speech will be a family affair
President Donald Trump will be joined at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota with his son Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Trump, as well as his daughter Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos.
Notably, first lady Melania Trump will not be in attendance.
Trump will give a speech at the American landmark to kick off a weekend of celebrations for the country’s 250th anniversary of independence.
Trump departs for South Dakota
President Donald Trump has departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and is heading to South Dakota to deliver a speech at Mount Rushmore.
Extreme heat warning in DC to continue throughout the day
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for Washington, D.C., that is expected to last until 9 p.m. ET on Friday.
While temperatures will cool down during the night, the extreme heat warning will kick back in from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on Saturday during celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, according to the weather service.
“Dangerously hot conditions each afternoon with heat index values between 110 to 115 expected,” the weather service warned.
What Trump said the last time he delivered a Fourth of July address at Mount Rushmore
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against racial injustice, Trump walked on a stage at the foot of Mount Rushmore in 2020 in the midst of national crisis.
Dozens of Native American protesters condemned his Fourth of July appearance at the sacred Sioux Nation site and tried to to block a road to the event. National Guard troops fired pepper spray at several protesters, and a dozen people were arrested moments before the president arrived.
Rather than a call for national unity, the president launched into an address that promised a cultural civil war against Americans while labeling international demonstrations against police violence as a “growing danger that threatens every blessing our ancestors fought so hard for.”
He accused protesters, journalists and educators of embracing “far-left fascism” that is “designed to overthrow the American revolution”.
“Their goal is to end America,” he declared. “In its place they want power for themselves.”
He returns to the landmark tonight.
D.C.'s July 4 'Salute to America' schedule
President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 group is hosting a “Salute to America” event all day long on the National Mall Saturday to celebrate 250 years of American independence.
Here’s the schedule:
Press has yet to see Trump today
White House reporters have yet to see President Donald Trump on Friday, according to a report by the press pool shortly after 5 p.m. ET.
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