American revelers stuck in HOT SEAT ahead of Trump's 250 extravaganza...as deadly heat wave bears down on DC's National Mall

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER and NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT Published: 00:15, 5 July 2026 | Updated: 00:28, 5 July 2026 Independence Day guests were forced to evacuate from Washington DC's National Mall on America's 250th anniversary ahead of Donald Trump's extravagant July 4 festivities due to extreme heat and thunderstorms. Trump is scheduled to speak at 9.45pm tonight, followed by what is being billed as the world's largest fireworks display at 10.30pm. The President has promised to deliver a 'really long speech' despite the sweltering triple digit temperature heat. 'Just to show that I can do anything,' Trump said on Wednesday. 'It's gonna be 107.' As of Saturday, the nation's capital had a real feel temperature of 107, according to AccuWeather. A temperature reading taken from the thousands of chairs came out at roughly 160 degrees on Saturday afternoon, NBC News reported. DC is under an extreme warning through 9pm tonight, while a severe thunderstorm warning is also in effect until 10pm. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate from the Great American State Fair and the National Mall as a result of the incoming storms, according to WJLA.  A deadly heat wave has impacted America's 250th anniversary celebrations, with scorching temperatures blasting Washington DC on Saturday The Freedom 250-backed Great American State Fair celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States opened at noon today because of the extreme heat National Guard members were seen passing out waterbottles to guests in order to guard against the heat dome President Donald Trump is set to deliver a speech at 9.45pm today to mark the 250th anniversary of America's independence. He has suggested it will be a 'really long' one Attendees have been told to go to the nearest exit until the weather clears, according to CNN. Organizers at the Salute to America event near the Washington Monument have urged guests to seek shelter in Smithsonian buildings, the outlet reported. To battle the heat, cooling stations and tents, as well as water distribution points, have been set up for guests, who have come to DC from all over the nation. Trump addressed the scorching weather again shortly before 3pm today on Truth Social. 'Despite the heat, which isn't as bad as predicted, the crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE!' Trump wrote. The President also noted that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall 'looks great, despite all it went through with the Vandal Thugs.' 'Will quickly drain and fix the damage done right after this big weekend,' Trump added. The opening of the Great American State Fair was pushed back from 10am to noon today due to the heat, according to NBC Washington. People had braved the blazing heat and waited in lines for hours to get in. Temperatures are expected to cool in DC and across the east coast tonight because of thunderstorms Washington DC had a real feel temperature of 107 on Saturday People from all over the US braved the blazing heat to celebrate America's 250th anniversary on the National Mall On Friday, the DC Fire and EMS Department said that 44 people had been treated for heat-related illnesses at the National Mall event, which at one point was temporarily closed due to the weather. From that group, 11 people were taken to the hospital, with seven in more serious condition, according to the outlet. Other events have also been disrupted because of the brutal temperatures. That included the National Independence Day Parade in DC, which was suddenly canceled on Friday night. The heat dome has engulfed the entire east coast, even becoming deadly in parts of the region. At least 19 people in New Jersey have died from suspected heat-related causes, state authorities said Saturday, according to NJ.com. Most of the deaths involved people in homes without air conditioning, according to New Jersey Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington. Some were found outside of their homes on the street or in parked cars, Washington added. He stressed that some of the people who died were 'younger adults.' 'It's important to note that the age ranges for these individuals were not just the elderly,' Washington said, per the outlet. Washington noted that this was 'not a typical summer heat wave,' as it could 'become life-threatening really quickly.' Trump is scheduled to speak at the Salute to America event on the National Mall at 9.45pm, followed by a massive firework display The heat caused the opening of the Great American State Fair to be delayed from 10am to noon today Washington DC is under an extreme heat warning until 9pm tonight, which is about 45 minutes before the beginning of Trump's Independence Day speech 44 people were treated for heat-related illnesses at the Great American State Fair on Friday, with 11 taken to the hospital The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that numerous temperature records were expected on Independence Day. Philadelphia hit its third straight day of 101 degrees on Saturday, which marked the first time that ever happened, according to the weather service. On Thursday, a 68-year-old man died from a heart attack due to heat exhaustion in Bethel Township, about 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia, according to CNN. New York City reported temperatures in the high 90s throughout the day after days of triple digit temperatures. The city's electric grid was under heavy strain due to the heat, with energy giant Con Edison asking some customers in Queens and Brooklyn to conserve energy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported increasing rates of heat-related illness in the Northeast. The extreme heat could ease somewhat with thunderstorms expected across the east coast later in the night. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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