Who ever let a spot of rain get in the way of a good time? Donald Trump’s July 4 festivities were delayed by several hours due to the threat of thunderstorms. On the National Mall, Secret Service agents did their darnedest to urge some of the President’s more avid supporters toward shelter: in the Blacksonian, the Commerce Department, the IRS. Many were reluctant, despite the blackening skies and flashes of lightning in the distance. “It’s not a debate, keep moving,” agents said. Confusion filtered through the crowd as to whether the night’s celebrations were canceled or merely delayed. Attendees milled aimlessly around the Washington Monument grounds, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with slogans such as “The metric system can’t measure freedom.”
It wasn’t until the first raindrops fell that many of those present took the agents seriously. After all, we are celebrating revolution, not compliance. “The venue was packed, we were ready to go,” an administration source says. That despite the triple-digit temperatures Washington faced at the tail-end of this week.
President Trump eventually took to the stage at 11:15 p.m., to a more depleted crowd. While waiting to come on, he was pictured watching himself on Fox News, creating a bizarre infinity mirror that is already one of the most iconic images of his presidency. The President was preceded, as ever, by his two pet singers. “Let the President hear you!” Christopher Macchio, an opera singer, implored the crowd, belting out “God Bless America.” Then came Lee Greenwood, singing “God Bless the USA.” Greenwood’s mic cut out as he tried to introduce the President at the end of his song. Trump was defiant about the prospect of the weather preventing him from speaking. “We want July 4, we’re not looking for July-something else,” he said, to whoops. The fireworks began about 20 seconds before midnight. Talk about timing.
