US 250th Independence Day: Trump takes center stage

President Donald Trump began his speech to mark the country’s 250th anniversary late Saturday.

“I want to thank everybody, because they did the right thing. They saw lightning, and I said, ‘There’s no way. If we have to speak in front of one person at 4 o’clock in the morning, I’m going to be here. There’s no way we can be deterred,” Trump told the crowd that had earlier been evacuated due to severe weather.

His speech will be followed by a record-breaking fireworks display over the capital.

Before the celebrations began, Trump had called the event “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.”

President Donald Trump arrived at the National Mall late Saturday to mark America’s 250th birthday.

His speech had to be rescheduled after severe weather forced the temporary evacuation of attendees.

“I’M HERE!!!” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

As the author of the US Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson is well known as one of the founding fathers of the country.

But like almost every celebrated historical icon, Jefferson also had a dark side, one that has really only been openly discussed for the last few decades.

This darker aspect of his biography is closely linked to Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a military engineer from Poland, who became one of the most important figures of the American war against the British.

Kosciuszko presented Jefferson with a moral test.

The US Coast Guard on Saturday said it had removed a ship ⁠participating in the parade of vessels marking ​America’s 250th anniversary in New York ​Harbor for displaying what ​it ‌called “politically charged messages.”

“As part of the parade of sail, ‌participants agreed to conditions established ‌by ​Sail4th. One of those conditions was to not display political or ​politically charged messages/statements,” Reuters news agency quoted the US Coast Guard as saying ⁠in ​a statement.

“The owner ​of the sloop Clearwater ​was contacted and requested ‌to remove the message being displayed ​or ⁠be removed from the parade of ⁠sail. ​They declined to remove it,” it added.

In a post on their Facebook  page, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater said that the captain was told that the ship was removed because of banners reading “Save the Clean Water Act” and “Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions.”

As the US marks 250 years of the Declaration of Independence, we talk power, freedom and who the United States was actually built for. What did “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” mean back then — and today?

US President Donald Trump said that he would go ahead with the planned speech to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary of independence after people were evacuated due to thunderstorms in the capital.

“I will be there no matter what, but the “what” usually turns out to be a good thing,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th,” he added.

A White House official and the Freedom 250 organizing group said that Trump was now scheduled to deliver the speech at 11 p.m. local time (0400 GMT Sunday).

As America marks 250 years, record heat has forced some parades to be canceled —but the deeper question is whether the country can still celebrate a common idea of itself.

Thousands of attendees are being told to seek shelter in buildings near the National Mall as thunderstorms gather near Washington DC.

“The safety of our guests, performers, and staff is our top priority,” Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.

The evacuation was ordered on Saturday evening just a few hours before US President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a campaign rally-style address to a huge crowd.

Our Washington correspondent Misha Komadovsky explained how a dangerous heat wave is disrupting the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

For 250 years, US foreign policy has shaped global affairs through both military intervention and diplomacy.

But is it really as simple as a story of isolation versus intervention?

DW examines the debate, drawing on data showing more than 500 US interventions from the 1800s to today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Saturday with his US counterpart Donald Trump, the Kremlin said.

Both leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled to take place on July 7-8.

“The presidents naturally addressed the issue of a settlement in Ukraine, taking into account, in particular, Donald Trump’s upcoming participation in the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 and 8,” said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s foreign policy aide, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

He ​said Putin gave ​Trump a realistic assessment of the battlefield ​situation in Ukraine.

The Kremlin official added that, during the nearly 90-minute call, Trump offered to help find a solution to the war.

The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said he had a “very good phone call” with Trump where they discussed the current state of the war.

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” were the “unalienable Rights” centered when the founders of the United States declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.

In the 250 years since, US governments have claimed that preserving the ideals of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms are the main motivators of the country’s foreign policy.

DW examined how the country’s foreign policy objectives and tactics have changed since.

The Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin’s most famous landmarks, was illuminated in the red, white and blue colors of the US flag on Saturday evening to honor 250 years of US independence.

“As a symbol of unity and freedom, the Brandenburg Gate powerfully reflects our shared values on July 4,” Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner said in a statement.

“Berlin warmly congratulates the United States on its 250th birthday,” he added.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also issued a statement, saying that the anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence was a cause for celebration even for Germany.

“The values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence formed the foundation of free and democratic post-war Germany,” Wadephul said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had called US President Donald Trump to congratulate him and all Americans on the US’ 250th Independence Day.

Describing it as a “very good phone call,” Zelenskyy said Ukraine was grateful to the US for all the assistance it received to support its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country.

“I am grateful to every American heart that cares about the future of Ukraine, Europe, and everyone around the world for whom freedom matters,” the Ukrainian leader posted on X.

Zelenskyy said he had also discussed with Trump the current state of the war.

“There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive. We have agreed to continue these discussions during the NATO Summit in Ankara,” he said.