Fireworks, heat and politics: America celebrates its 250th birthday

Americans celebrated the nation's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, with parades, fireworks, and concerts across the country despite a dangerous heat wave affecting much of the eastern United States. President Trump addressed crowds in Washington, D.C., where the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch that could affect the evening fireworks display. Social media videos documented masked demonstrators, some carrying Confederate flags, marching through the capital during the celebrations.