President Donald Trump opened America’s 250th Independence Day weekend by delivering a speech at Mount Rushmore on July 3, 2026. The event marked a return to the iconic national memorial, where Trump last spoke in 2020 during his first term amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mount Rushmore celebration included flyovers, performances by military bands, and tributes to the Armed Services. It culminated in a large fireworks display, the first at the national memorial in years, according to the National Park Service. Preparations for the Fourth of July fireworks were underway in Keystone, South Dakota, where the event was held.

Trump traveled to Keystone aboard the newly retrofitted Air Force One 747, a gift from the Qatari royal family. Earlier in the week, he used the jet for a trip to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

In January, Trump issued a presidential action calling for "a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026." The nation has organized a series of events, including the "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where a large Fourth of July celebration is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The president has teased a long speech for the occasion, which is billed as the largest fireworks display ever held on the National Mall.

Washington, D.C., is under an "Extreme Heat Alert" with temperatures expected to feel like 105°F or higher through Sunday morning, according to DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management.

The National Mall has also been a focus this year following vandalism incidents at the Reflecting Pool and monuments. The White House reported that after Trump ordered restoration and repainting of the Reflecting Pool, it was met with "razor-blade cuts" to its lining.

As of his second term, there has been no significant progress toward some initiatives Trump previously called a "good idea" during his 2020 Mount Rushmore speech.

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