In a bold declaration made on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced his plans to deliver an extensive speech on the National Mall for America’s 250th anniversary, even as meteorologists predict the temperature to soar to 107 degrees.
“By the way, on July 4, it’s going to be about 107 degrees,” he remarked at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library’s inauguration event in Medora, North Dakota. “I’m going to be there, making a really long speech just to prove I can do anything,” he confidently stated.
The “Salute to America 250 Celebration and Fireworks” is set to kick off at 7 p.m. on the National Mall, with President Trump expected to take the stage at 9:45 p.m. EDT. The event is organized by the Trump administration’s Freedom 250 committee, which is orchestrating the Great American State Fair along the iconic Mall.
President Trump has previously described this National Mall gathering as “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.”
He touted the upcoming affair on Truth Social last month, promising “incredible Flyovers and Airshows featuring our Top Military Pilots and Equipment.” Trump’s keynote remarks are anticipated to be memorable, as he assured attendees they “will not want to miss” his address. To cap off the festivities, he vowed to launch “the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY” in the nation’s capital, urging people not to miss the historic evening.
The fireworks show is slated to kick off at 10:30 p.m., according to Freedom 250’s website. However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday said the fireworks show will start at 11 p.m.
The National Weather Service (NWS) expects Washington, D.C., to reach a high of 107, as the president said. The temperature is likely to remain hot through the evening, but it should drop to 88 degrees by 9 p.m. when Trump gives his address. The city faces an elevated extreme heat risk all throughout Saturday.
Forecasters also anticipate a high heat index of 94 degrees and humidity levels reaching 54 percent. They warn this could leave temperatures feeling hotter outside, potentially challenging daily record high temperatures.
“It looks as though the heat and humidity will likely hold on through the weekend as well,” the NWS stated on Wednesday. “However, forecast confidence in the exact high temperatures starts to decrease a bit, as both remnant cloud cover from thunderstorms on previous days and thunderstorms from the day of could impact temperatures.”
Washington’s record for the hottest temperature on the Fourth of July was 1919, when the high reached 100 degrees, according to the NWS.