What to know
• America 250: Fourth of July celebrations are taking place across the nation as the United States turns 250. Weeks of events in Washington, DC, will culminate this evening in an extravagant fireworks show and an address from President Donald Trump, who also spoke yesterday at Mount Rushmore.
• Weather updates: An intense heat wave has forced organizers to alter or cancel events in the capital and in communities all along the East Coast. Now a severe thunderstorm threat looms, with the risk for the Washington, DC, area ramping up by 6 p.m. ET.
• Complicated backdrop: Trump has unmistakably put his mark on America 250 festivities and billed his rally on the National Mall as an “unforgettable birthday party.” But the holiday comes with mixed feelings for many Americans facing stubborn cost-of-living issues, the war with Iran and a polarizing presidency.
Trump touts Fourth of July festivities ahead of speech
President Donald Trump said this afternoon that despite the heat, the crowds in the nation’s capital for July Fourth have been “INCREDIBLE!”
“Despite the heat, which isn’t as bad as predicted, the crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE! The love of our Country has never been stronger! The Air Shows are at a level never seen before - What great pilots, what great equipment!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He also teased his speech tonight, writing, “See you all later! Speaking at around 10:00 P.M. at The Lincoln Memorial.”
According to a senior White House official, the president is expected to talk about the nation’s founding, highlight what he believes makes America exceptional, and tout his accomplishments in office.
Trump recently dismissed any concerns about the heat stopping him from giving remarks.
“On July Fourth it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to go and I’m going to make a really long speech,” he said earlier this week. “Just to show that I can do anything.”
The president has drawn criticism for turning events meant to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding into venues for personal promotion. He said previously that tonight’s celebration would include a “TRUMP RALLY” in addition to a tribute to America.
CNN’s Alayna Treene contributed to this post.
Here's a closer look at CNN's trip aboard "America's Tall Ship"
Earlier today, CNN’s Erica Hill joined the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, nicknamed “America’s Tall Ship,” as part of the boat parade along New York Harbor celebrating the nation’s 250th Independence Day.
Watch the video below to learn more about the vessel:
CNN’s Erica Hill is on board the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, also known as “America’s Tall Ship,” as the vessel leads the tall ship parade along the Hudson River for the Fourth of July.
A major line of thunderstorms is rolling toward Chicago
A disruptive squall line is pushing toward Chicagoland with lots of thunder and lightning. Some parts of this storm are producing damaging wind gusts, so severe thunderstorm warnings could be issued.
DC is having its hottest July Fourth on record
Preliminary data from Reagan National Airport shows the capital climbed to 101 degrees this afternoon. The record for the DC area is 100 degrees, set in 1919. Records there go back to 1871.
The National Weather Service will confirm the record later this afternoon.
Radar: Thunderstorms starting in the Mid-Atlantic
Thunderstorms are popping west of Washington, DC, and some of them have severe warnings on them (yellow boxes in the graphic below).
The risk for the DC area ramps up by around 6 p.m. ET.
Fourth of July festivities canceled in Annapolis, Maryland, due to severe weather
The annual Independence Day parade and the US Naval Academy’s Electric Brigade Concert have been canceled in Annapolis due to a severe thunderstorm watch, likely to bring lightning and heavy wind to the area.
At the moment, fireworks are still scheduled for 9:15 p.m. ET, but they may be delayed, the city announced. The parade will not be rescheduled.
National Archives archivist shares common misconcpetion about Declaration of Independence
Most people celebrating America’s 250th birthday believe that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. But a National Archives archivist explained to CNN that it wasn’t.
Instead, the Founding Fathers on that day approved the final wording of the document, archivist Trevor Plante said, adding that they actually began signing the Declaration of Independence on August 2.
Plante also shared how the historic document was preserved during the War of 1812 and following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Watch CNN’s Dana Bash’s conversation with Plante here:
There's a severe thunderstorm watch in place for the DC area
The atmosphere is primed for damaging storms. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for much of Maryland and Virginia, including the DC area, until 10 p.m. ET.
The biggest concern we have with these storms is damaging wind. There’s a chance some of these could produce what we call “downbursts” — intense downward wind in a thunderstorm that hits the ground and speeds out in all directions.
A pleasant day for the signing of the Declaration of Independence
☀️ ⛈️ Get your forecast in the CNN Weather app
When the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the high temperature in Philadelphia was at least 76 degrees — Thomas Jefferson himself recorded the measurement.
That was a mild day for the time, but 250 years later, the city is absolutely roasting.
Philadelphia could hit 100 degrees today and the heat index — how the air actually feels with humidity — will climb several degrees above that.
White nationalist group marches through DC during America’s 250th birthday events
Masked members of the White nationalist group Patriot Front — some carrying Confederate flags — marched through Washington, DC, on Saturday, injecting a display of extremism into celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday.
Video from CNN affiliate WTOP showed the group in areas near the US Capitol as crowds gathered ahead of a major National Mall event expected to feature a speech by President Donald Trump.
Patriot Front is considered one of the most active White nationalist groups in the country, according to experts interviewed by CNN, the group’s social media activity and the steady drumbeat of its public demonstrations. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated Patriot Front a hate group. Its members frequently appear in matching uniforms and masks, often carrying riot shields and flags at choreographed marches in cities across the US.
On Saturday, as they marched in the nation’s capital, members of the group shouted slogans including “Life, liberty, victory” and “Reclaim America!”
The Metropolitan Police Department said the group’s presence did not lead to any incidents.
CNN’s Rob Picheta contributed to this report.
Attendees are feeling the heat at the Great American State Fair
Scorching temperatures in the nation’s capital have impacted the Great American State Fair today, but attendees are taking the weather in stride.
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam is on the scene with a look at the high temperatures, an update on the state of affairs and a … unique outfit for this Fourth of July assignment:
Hot dog eating legend Joey Chestnut wins 18th Fourth of July contest
Joey Chestnut, famously known for pounding dozens of hot dogs on the Fourth of July, won Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest for the 18th time Saturday.
The 42-year-old finished 66 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes, claiming another Mustard Belt victory. The runner-up ate 14 fewer hotdogs than Chestnut.
He set the world record in 2021 when he ate 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Chestnut was barred from the contest in 2024 after he struck a deal with the plant-based food company Impossible Foods. The same year, he devoured 83 all-beef hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in a Netflix Labor Day event in Las Vegas.
First American pope marked July 4th on an island at the forefront of migrant crisis
In a letter released during his visit to the southern Italian island Lampedusa, Pope Leo XIV marked the Fourth of July with an appeal for “compassion and generosity.”
The pope said protecting human life meant “welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants,” whose “hopes, sacrifices and contribution” formed part of the history of the United States. Catch up with the video below, and read our full report on the pope’s visit here.
The first American pontiff Pope Leo XIV spent Independence Day on the southern Italian island Lampedusa, welcoming migrants and honoring the thousands who have died or disappeared trying to cross the Mediterranean. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports.
Trump-backed organizer of America 250 events under scrutiny by Democrats
Donors who intended to support a bipartisan nonprofit organizing celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary were allegedly redirected — without their knowledge — to a separate nonprofit behind events being promoted by President Donald Trump, according to a report from a group of House Democrats, citing confidential, unnamed sources.
The interim report, compiled by Democratic staff on the House Natural Resources Committee, includes accounts from unnamed sources about donors who wanted to give to the America250 nonprofit, which is overseen by a bipartisan congressional commission, being given incorrect wire instructions so that their money would flow to the Trump-backed Freedom 250.
If true, the actions could constitute “potential wire fraud and charitable solicitation fraud,” according to the report, which doesn’t detail how much money was diverted, if at all.
The 41-page report claims Trump allies sought to sideline America250 while putting the president at the center of the nation’s anniversary and “selling” access to him in exchange for donations. Freedom 250’s activities are largely overseen by top Trump aides, and it has taken steps to brand itself as the “nonpartisan” group “leading the celebration” of America’s birthday.
The report echoes complaints from outside watchdog groups about a lack of transparency around the finances and operations of Freedom 250.
A spokesperson for Freedom 250, Danielle Alvarez, called the claims in the report “categorically false” in a statement.
“This so-called ‘report’ is nothing more than a partisan smear from politicians who would rather manufacture division than celebrate America’s 250th birthday alongside the rest of the country,” she said.
CNN has also reached out to the White House and the National Park Foundation for comment. Read our full report here.
Foreign leaders congratulate US on 250 years of independence
Foreign leaders sent celebratory wishes and pledged enduring support to the United States today as the nation marks its 250th anniversary of independence.
From Europe:
- “Congratulations to our friends and partners in the United States of America on the 250th anniversary of your independence,” President of the European Council António Costa said in a post on X.
- In New York, the Statue of Liberty, the monument France gifted to the US nearly 140 years ago as a symbol of freedom and friendship, was illuminated in the colors of the US flag. Back in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was also aglow with a “heartfelt tribute” to its friends in the US.
- The UK’s foreign office honored the relationship with its “closest of allies” by sharing a simple graphic on X with the dates “1776” and “2026” emblazoned with the star-spangled banner. The American War of Independence, also known as the Revolutionary War, was fought to overthrow Britain’s colonial rule.
- NATO also joined the celebrations on social media, including the military alliance chair’s public affairs account, which thanked US armed forces for their “continued steadfast support to the Alliance.” The message comes amid souring relations with Washington, as President Donald Trump and top administration officials frequently accuse European nations of overreliance on US military spending.
From the Middle East:
- “I extend my sincere congratulations to US President Donald Trump and the American people on the 250th anniversary of national independence,” United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote in a post on X.
- Saudi Arabia’s state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to Trump to celebrate US Independence Day. Al Saud wished the president “continued good health and happiness,” as well as “steady progress and prosperity” for the US people and government.
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun wished Trump and the American people “success, prosperity and further progress and achievement.”
- Messages of well-wishes and congratulations also came in from other US allies in the region, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
What the founding fathers' descendants think about America at 250
It’s a tough time for the United States to be celebrating its 250th birthday. The country has been waging an unpopular war in Iran. The economy is struggling. Many are worried about their finances. Mistrust in institutions is deepening. Faith in the government is nearing historic lows. Political polarization and deep divisions on major issues seem to be intensifying.
Still, America endures, and we’ve nearly reached a milestone that the country’s founders never imagined.
They’re not here to witness this moment. But many of their descendants are — and when CNN asked eight of them to reflect on America’s past, present and future, they had a lot to say.
Join CNN on a journey around the US, from a soccer field in Iowa, to a mountain in Vermont, to a law school in North Carolina. And take a look at America through these descendants’ eyes here.
Laura Murphy is a descendant of Philip Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and an enslaved woman. She's one of eight descendants of Founding Fathers who shared their views on America's past, present and future with CNN.
The extreme weather could also impact a July 4th World Cup match
Philadelphia is hosting a World Cup match at 5 p.m. ET, and Mother Nature is not going to make it easy.
Extreme temperatures along with severe thunderstorms could disrupt the Round of 16 contest between Paraguay and France.
At the time of kickoff, the temperature should be around 99 degrees with a heat index of 104. Temperatures don’t cool off much by the end of the game, when the thermometer should be right around 95 degrees with a heat index just barely above 100.
Another concern — and the one most likely to delay the game — is severe thunderstorms. Lightning and damaging winds are possible from 5 p.m. ET until midnight. The chance of storms is currently 50% during game time, and even if it doesn’t rain at the stadium itself, nearby lightning could trigger a delay for safety reasons.
Beyoncé does her civic duty by dropping new music
If you need a new tune to chill out with at your cookout, Queen Bey has got you.
Beyoncé celebrated the 4th of July by dropping a single titled “Morning Dew (Donk),” her first music since the 2024 album “Act II: Cowboy Carter.”
The single “starts a 60-day countdown to her next birthday, and the re-issue of B’DAY, her ground-breaking second album that was released two decades ago on September 4, 2006,” according to a press release.
And while it may not be the new album her devout fanbase — known as the Beyhive — has been eagerly awaiting, it will still get them buzzing.
Putin and Zelensky share July Fourth messages
Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a personal message of “sincere congratulations” to President Donald Trump today to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
Putin first addressed Trump, whom he’s had a tumultuous relationship with, as “Dear Mr. President,” followed by “Dear Donald.” His message was unusually informal and friendly, using the Russian form of “you” reserved for close friends rather than the term typically used in official communications.
He added: “I am confident that establishing constructive, equal, and mutually beneficial relations between Moscow and Washington is in the interests not only of our peoples but also of the entire international community.”
Meanwhile, in a separate message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky compared America’s fight for freedom with the country’s war against Russia.
The American Dream “has endured many trials. It did not merely survive – it has, for two and a half centuries now, served as an example for other nations and helped the entire humanity stand firm and become freer,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Vance says people should reject criticism of the US in July 4th message
Vice President JD Vance called on Americans to reject criticism of the US, saying some people “speak obsessively, not of our national greatness, but of our national imperfections.”
The Republican vice president was speaking in New York City at the International Naval Review, where he delivered a pointed message amid Independence Day celebrations under way.
“I have to address what you will hear from some loud voices today, because as much as all of us, whether we’re Democrat or Republican, whatever our political persuasion, all of us are celebrating, but you will hear a couple small but loud voices today speak obsessively, not of our national greatness, but of our national imperfections,” he said.
Such critics “talk about America’s sins with the anger and zeal of a brimstone preacher, but without any of the grace or forgiveness that must be present in the Christian faith,” Vance said.
The message was in contrast to that of New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who in a message on X encouraged Americans to “remember that patriotism is not pretending our nation is without flaws. Patriotism is every act of righteous dissent — because loving our country means fighting for the best version of it.”
