Key facts
- President Donald Trump stated that communism is a mortal threat to American liberty.
- Trump delivered speeches on the threat of communism at Mount Rushmore and in Washington D.C.
- The Independence Day parade in Washington D.C. was cancelled due to extreme heat.
- Temperatures in Washington D.C. were expected to reach 46°C.
- Devastating wildfires are impacting the western United States, particularly Colorado and Utah.
US President Donald Trump warned of a communist threat to American liberty during speeches delivered as the nation prepared to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence. Trump stated during an event at Mount Rushmore and in Washington D.C. that "Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty" and "the greatest threat to our country."
The Independence Day festivities were overshadowed by a severe heatwave and wildfires. In Washington D.C., the Great American State Fair was closed for several hours due to the extreme heat, and the city's Independence Day parade was cancelled as temperatures were forecast to reach 46°C.
Meanwhile, devastating wildfires in the western United States, particularly in Colorado and Utah, forced thousands of residents to evacuate and destroyed over 160 structures, prompting the deployment of the National Guard. In contrast, the Pacific Northwest experienced milder weather with temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit.