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What you need to know
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Trump delivers late-night address after weather delay
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World leaders from Germany to India congratulate US on its 250th birthday
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British King Charles says US-UK to continue to defend ‘shared values’
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Trump extols America, slams communism on eve of the 250th Independence Day
Here is a roundup of the top developments in the United States as the country celebrates its 250th Independence Day on July 4, 2026:
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Skip next section Trump takes center stage as US turns 25007/05/2026July 5, 2026
Trump takes center stage as US turns 250
President Donald Trump began his speech to mark the country’s 250th anniversary late Saturday.
“I want to thank everybody, because they did the right thing. They saw lightning, and I said, ‘There’s no way. If we have to speak in front of one person at 4 o’clock in the morning, I’m going to be here. There’s no way we can be deterred,” Trump told the crowd that had earlier been evacuated due to severe weather.
His speech will be followed by a record-breaking fireworks display over the capital.
Before the celebrations began, Trump had called the event “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaWSSkip next section Trump arrives for July 4th speech after severe weather caused delay07/05/2026July 5, 2026
Trump arrives for July 4th speech after severe weather caused delay
President Donald Trump arrived at the National Mall late Saturday to mark America’s 250th birthday.
His speech had to be rescheduled after severe weather forced the temporary evacuation of attendees.
“I’M HERE!!!” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaTlSkip next section IN DEPTH: The moral test US founding father Thomas Jefferson failed?07/05/2026July 5, 2026
IN DEPTH: The moral test US founding father Thomas Jefferson failed?
Bartosz Dudek
As the author of the US Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson is well known as one of the founding fathers of the country.
But like almost every celebrated historical icon, Jefferson also had a dark side, one that has really only been openly discussed for the last few decades.
This darker aspect of his biography is closely linked to Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a military engineer from Poland, who became one of the most important figures of the American war against the British.
Kosciuszko presented Jefferson with a moral test. Read more on why historians still disagree on whether Jefferson passed or not the test.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaJOSkip next section Ship removed from New York Harbor parade over ‘politically charged’ messages07/05/2026July 5, 2026
Ship removed from New York Harbor parade over ‘politically charged’ messages
The US Coast Guard on Saturday said it had removed a ship participating in the parade of vessels marking America’s 250th anniversary in New York Harbor for displaying what it called “politically charged messages.”
“As part of the parade of sail, participants agreed to conditions established by Sail4th. One of those conditions was to not display political or politically charged messages/statements,” Reuters news agency quoted the US Coast Guard as saying in a statement.
“The owner of the sloop Clearwater was contacted and requested to remove the message being displayed or be removed from the parade of sail. They declined to remove it,” it added.
In a post on their Facebook page, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater said that the captain was told that the ship was removed because of banners reading “Save the Clean Water Act” and “Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaTcSkip next section WATCH: After 250 years, is US still living up to its 1776 promise?07/05/2026July 5, 2026
WATCH: After 250 years, is US still living up to its 1776 promise?
As the US marks 250 years of the Declaration of Independence, we talk power, freedom and who the United States was actually built for. What did “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” mean back then — and today?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaHhSkip next section Trump says going ahead with July 4th speech ‘no matter what’07/05/2026July 5, 2026
Trump says going ahead with July 4th speech ‘no matter what’
US President Donald Trump said that he would go ahead with the planned speech to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary of independence after people were evacuated due to thunderstorms in the capital.
“I will be there no matter what, but the “what” usually turns out to be a good thing,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th,” he added.
A White House official and the Freedom 250 organizing group said that Trump was now scheduled to deliver the speech at 11 p.m. local time (0400 GMT Sunday).
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaQQSkip next section WATCH: Divided we celebrate: America’s 250th birthday07/05/2026July 5, 2026
WATCH: Divided we celebrate: America’s 250th birthday
Janelle Dumalaon in Washington DC
As America marks 250 years, record heat has forced some parades to be canceled — but the deeper question is whether the country can still celebrate a common idea of itself.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaPMSkip next section Main Fourth of July event in Washington DC evacuated over storm threat07/05/2026July 5, 2026
Main Fourth of July event in Washington DC evacuated over storm threat
Thousands of attendees are being told to seek shelter in buildings near the National Mall as thunderstorms gather near Washington DC.
“The safety of our guests, performers, and staff is our top priority,” Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
The evacuation was ordered on Saturday evening just a few hours before US President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a campaign rally-style address to a huge crowd.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaM3Skip next section Brutal heat disrupts America’s 250th birthday celebrations07/05/2026July 5, 2026
Brutal heat disrupts America’s 250th birthday celebrations
Our Washington correspondent Misha Komadovsky explained how a dangerous heat wave is disrupting the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaLjSkip next section WATCH: 250 years US global policy: Isolationism or interventionism?07/05/2026July 5, 2026
WATCH: 250 years US global policy: Isolationism or interventionism?
For 250 years, US foreign policy has shaped global affairs through both military intervention and diplomacy.
But is it really as simple as a story of isolation versus intervention?
DW examines the debate, drawing on data showing more than 500 US interventions from the 1800s to today.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaHPSkip next section Putin spoke to Trump by phone about Ukraine, says Kremlin07/05/2026July 5, 2026
Putin spoke to Trump by phone about Ukraine, says Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Saturday with his US counterpart Donald Trump, the Kremlin said.
Both leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled to take place on July 7-8.
“The presidents naturally addressed the issue of a settlement in Ukraine, taking into account, in particular, Donald Trump’s upcoming participation in the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 and 8,” said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s foreign policy aide, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
He said Putin gave Trump a realistic assessment of the battlefield situation in Ukraine.
The Kremlin official added that, during the nearly 90-minute call, Trump offered to help find a solution to the war.
The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said he had a “very good phone call” with Trump where they discussed the current state of the war.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaJ1Skip next section IN DEPTH: How the US shaped the world: 250 years of power and policies07/05/2026July 5, 2026
IN DEPTH: How the US shaped the world: 250 years of power and policies
Gianna-Carina Grün | Peter Hille
“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” were the “unalienable Rights” centered when the founders of the United States declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.
In the 250 years since, US governments have claimed that preserving the ideals of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms are the main motivators of the country’s foreign policy.
DW examined how the country’s foreign policy objectives and tactics have changed since.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaHOSkip next section Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate lights up in red, white and blue to mark the US’s 250th anniversary07/04/2026July 4, 2026
Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate lights up in red, white and blue to mark the US’s 250th anniversary
The Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin’s most famous landmarks, was illuminated in the red, white and blue colors of the US flag on Saturday evening to honor 250 years of US independence.
“As a symbol of unity and freedom, the Brandenburg Gate powerfully reflects our shared values on July 4,” Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner said in a statement.
“Berlin warmly congratulates the United States on its 250th birthday,” he added.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also issued a statement, saying that the anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence was a cause for celebration even for Germany.
“The values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence formed the foundation of free and democratic post-war Germany,” Wadephul said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaHESkip next section IN PICTURES: Americans celebrate the US’ 250th Independence Day07/04/2026July 4, 2026
IN PICTURES: Americans celebrate the US’ 250th Independence Day
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaGMSkip next section Zelenskyy says had a ‘very good phone call’ with Trump07/04/2026July 4, 2026
Zelenskyy says had a ‘very good phone call’ with Trump
Dmytro Hubenko Editor
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had called US President Donald Trump to congratulate him and all Americans on the US’ 250th Independence Day.
Describing it as a “very good phone call,” Zelenskyy said Ukraine was grateful to the US for all the assistance it received to support its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country.
“I am grateful to every American heart that cares about the future of Ukraine, Europe, and everyone around the world for whom freedom matters,” the Ukrainian leader posted on X.
Zelenskyy said he had also discussed with Trump the current state of the war.
“There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive. We have agreed to continue these discussions during the NATO Summit in Ankara,” he said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GaEpShow more posts
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