Extreme heat hits US on Independence Day

TT

Updated 08.57 | Published 07.19

 

US President Donald Trump after his speech at the Mount Rushmore monument on Saturday night Swedish time. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP/TT

The US's 250th birthday comes amid a major heat wave and warnings covering 160 million Americans.

The alarms about the extreme heat have turned planned parades and street parties upside down in cities and communities across much of the country.

The US's July 4th celebrations take place over the weekend. But warnings of a severe heat wave have thrown chaos into planned parades around the country.

President Donald Trump, however, has not been deterred by the heat. On Saturday night, he will hold a large rally in Washington with thunderous military aircraft and a fireworks show the president described as “the largest in the world.”

“It’s going to be about 107 degrees (41 degrees Celsius) outside, and I’m going to go there and give a really long speech — just to show that I can do anything,” Trump said earlier.

The president gave a speech Saturday night in which he harshly attacked what he says are new threats to America’s identity. He also criticized domestic “radicals and extremists.”

The speech was delivered at Mount Rushmore, with its giant carved heads, and was marked by patriotism and tributes to the country’s past leaders.

Trump also said there is “a resurgence of the communist threat” in the country.

His anti-immigrant rhetoric did not reach the level he has demonstrated in previous speeches. Nevertheless, the underlying message was clear:

“You don’t have to be born here, but you have to love what we’ve built.”