Trump’s July 4 “Salute To America” Undeterred By The Rain
on Jul 04, 2026 • Updated Jul 05, 2026
On July 4, 1776, some courageous colonists signed the Declaration of Independence.
Today, 250 years later, the valor and bravery of those who fought and died to bring about — and then keep — the experiment of our Republic are celebrated.
Annually, fireworks are part of the July 4 tradition, but the semiquincentennial has brought the Independence Day festivities to new heights.
In Washington, D.C., this is being marked with, what President Donald Trump has promised, will be “the largest fireworks display in world history.”
Gathered on the Washington Monument Grounds at the National Mall, the “Salute To America” was put on by Freedom 250 — a culmination of months of celebrations and commemorations.
In the weeks and months leading up to this occasion have been filled with patriotic displays, including breathtaking military flyovers, a one-of-a-kind UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House, the kick off of the Great American State Fair, and more.
Now, the special day is finally here.
RELATED: Dazzling Military Flyovers Honor 250 Years Of American Freedom
Lee Greenwood Introduces Trump Ahead Of His July 4 “Salute To America” Speech
Following a rain delay, which pushed the start of the Salute To America from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., the show went on, with President Trump writing on Truth Social:
“Our great veterans, especially the old timers, many of whom are there, went through hellfire, and it didn’t stop them. It’s not going to stop us either! I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th.”
He even followed that post up by announcing at 10:06 p.m. that he had arrived, writing:
Christopher Macchio, often referred to as “America’s tenor” by Trump, kicked the event off at 11 p.m., singing “Ave Maria” and Puccini’s “Nessun dorma.”
He also led the audience in singing “God Bless America,” encouraging the audience to join by saying, “Let the president hear you!”
Of course, country artist Lee Greenwood was on hand to sing “God Bless The USA,” which has been a staple of Trump rallies and events for the past decade of his involvement in politics.
Greenwood was joined by a choir of service members.
See some of the performance, here:
WATCH: Lee Greenwood Delivers an Unforgettable Performance of "God Bless the USA" For the Packed D.C. Crowd – 07/04/26 pic.twitter.com/y6iHgbsyKl
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) July 5, 2026
Greenwood then introduced Trump, who entered the stage with First Lady Melania Trump.
Trump Delivers Speech Celebrating History While Championing American Freedom
Trump’s speech looked to the past, while also celebrating the present moment, with the achievement of 250 years of American freedom being foregrounded.
Several veterans were recognized during Trump’s speech.
Among them were 107-year-old Art Rose, who was at D-Day in 1944 and recently read his powerful letter home while at the 2026 D-Day ceremony in Normandy, France.
Don Graves, who is 101, was also at the Salute To America, and he is a veteran of the iconic World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. Last year, for his 100th birthday, Graves had a song he wrote about that battle recorded by country stars Lee Greenwood and John Rich, making Graves the oldest signed songwriter in history.
That song, titled “The Sand of Iwo Jima,” can be heard, here.
Trump also showed off one of the first American flags.
WATCH: @POTUS displays one of the very first American flags ever made during his Independence Day speech on the National Mall.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 5, 2026
"These were the Stars and Stripes that flew triumphant when the British waved the white flag of surrender at Yorktown… Ever since, the entire world… pic.twitter.com/MRvKPBMKd8
“There’s no challenge Americans cannot overcome, there’s no place we can’t go,” Trump said.
Touting American strength, he said the stock market is strong.
Powerfully, he stated:
“We have thrived and flourished because our founders were great, our cause was just, our people are brave, our culture is exceptional, and our destiny is written by God.”
He added that, even after 250 years, “The spirit of 1776 still lives within us all.”
Watch Trump’s remarks at the event, live, here:
“Salute To America” Creates Spectacle With Massive Firework Show Set To A Toby Keith Classic
“I’ll be very proudly speaking as we ring in our 250th year with the largest fireworks display in world history,” Trump said. “10 times larger than any that we’ve ever done in Washington or anywhere in the United States.”
According to the website for Salute To America 250, there will be “850,000 fireworks shells launched from 10 sites: Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, 8 Potomac River barges, and West Potomac Park.”
NPR reports that organizers say the fireworks show, starting at 10:30 p.m., will last 40 minutes.
NPR also notes that the current record holder for larges fireworks show is a megachurch in the Philippines that fired off about 811,000 fireworks in 2016.
The show is being put on by Pyrotechnico, who previously used 1,000 drones to create an American flag in smoke at the MLB Opening Night in March.
Fox News’ Peter Doocy reported that there will be 400 fireworks launched per second.
During the firework show, a member of the U.S. Army Band, Chris Rettig, notably performed Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”
The firework show went for a total of 40 minutes, and ended just as it began to rain.
See some of that performance, amid fireworks, here:
Courtesy of the Red White and Blue by Toby Keith performed at the 250 celebration 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XOGYMEcizJ
— Chief of the 804 (@teeHTTR) July 5, 2026
One particularly moving moment from the July 4 celebration in D.C. was captured in a photo by Fox News’ Dana Perino. In her photo, which she posted on X, several World War II veterans who were recognized by Trump during his speech can be seen sitting at the World War II Memorial as they watch the fireworks.
See that incredible image, here:
The WWII vets featured in the President’s speech watched the fireworks from their memorial. ❤️🇺🇸🙏🏻🎆 pic.twitter.com/T2tfCRVcvA
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) July 5, 2026
Watch Lee Greenwood and John Rich sing Don Graves’ song, “The Sand of Iwo Jima,” here:
