Trump heads to Mount Rushmore as America 250 celebrations ramp up amid extreme heat

By — Steven Sloan, Associated Press Steven Sloan, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-heads-to-mount-rushmore-as-america-250-celebrations-ramp-up-amid-extreme-heat Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump heads to Mount Rushmore as America 250 celebrations ramp up amid extreme heat Nation Jul 3, 2026 11:05 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain kick into higher gear across the United States on Friday as celebrations are balanced with efforts to stay safe as much of the country bakes under extreme heat . Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. President Donald Trump will travel to South Dakota to deliver a speech and watch fireworks at Mount Rushmore. And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City's Times Square at midnight to usher in the July Fourth holiday with much the same revelry that is typically reserved for New Year's Eve. The activity culminates in the main event Saturday, when fireworks will erupt in communities across the U.S., along with backyard cookouts and block parties. Trump will deliver another speech at the National Mall in Washington before what is being billed as a historically massive fireworks show. WATCH: A look at America's founding from the room where independence was declared But for all the celebrations, there are also serious safety considerations as potentially record heat grips much of the Midwest and East Coast. Officials have warned those celebrating the holiday to stay hydrated and take air-conditioned breaks as needed. The heat has already affected some of the programming surrounding the holiday. In Washington, organizers of the Capitol Fourth concert banned the public from attending a Thursday rehearsal because of the heat. The concert Friday, a staple of Washington's Independence Day traditions, is on, but the gates will open to the public later than usual, at 7 p.m. EDT, an hour before the show. Organizers of celebrations in Washington on Saturday said they were adding water stations along with cooling resources and medical support. From Boston to Norristown, Pennsylvania and Gettysburg National Military Park, plans were shifting to accommodate the soaring temperatures. Amtrak canceled some trains in the Northeast due to excessive heat that could affect the tracks. The holiday is unfolding at a unique time in the U.S. The anniversary has served as an opportunity for the country to reflect on its history while also reminding it of the political polarization of the moment. READ MORE: Poll: Most Americans think the U.S. has strayed from its founding principles Even the celebrations themselves have not quite escaped the divide. Freedom 250, an organization aligned with the White House, has come to rival America250, a bipartisan group found