Americans marked the nation's 250th Independence Day on Saturday with fireworks, parades and celebrations across the country, but the milestone unfolded against a backdrop of deep political polarization, extreme summer heat and renewed debate over the country's identity as President Donald Trump used the occasion to deliver a sharply political message.
The centerpiece of the celebrations was Washington's National Mall, where organizers staged what officials described as the largest Independence Day fireworks display in the country's history.
Trump expanded the traditional festivities with military flyovers and a campaign-style rally, placing his own imprint on the semiquincentennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The anniversary arrived as much of the United States endured a punishing heat wave. Nearly 160 million people remained under extreme heat alerts, forcing communities to alter or cancel outdoor events.
In the nation's capital, temperatures were expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit), with the heat index climbing as high as 43 to 46 degrees Celsius (110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting officials to cancel Washington's Independence Day parade.
