Trump vows July 4 speech will happen ‘no matter what’ after storms threaten Washington rally
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would deliver a speech to mark the country’s 250th anniversary on the National Mall “no matter what,” as summer thunderstorms threatened to delay or disrupt the event.
Authorities had ordered a crowd to evacuate the area near the Washington Monument where Trump was due to speak, but the group organizing the event, Freedom 250, said they would be readmitted and Trump would speak at 11:00 p.m. ET (0300 GMT), one hour later than previously scheduled.
“I will be there no matter what,” Trump posted on social media. “It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight.”
Visitors had waited hours to get into the event, contending with stepped-up security and temperatures that reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius). The record-breaking heat wave forced the cancelation of several parades and other events in the area.
