Washington fireworks delayed to later start as Trump holds July 4 rally
The Independence Day fireworks display in Washington, D.C., will begin around 11 p.m. after President Donald Trump’s July 4 rally pushes the schedule back by nearly two hours.
Washington, D.C. – The Independence Day fireworks show, planned by the public-private group Freedom 250, will be postponed to about 11 p.m. on July 4, after President Donald Trump scheduled a rally on the National Mall earlier in the evening. The display, which organizers say will feature more than 850,000 pyrotechnic effects and last roughly 40 minutes, is expected to be the largest and longest July 4 fireworks ever held in the capital.
Trump announced on his social-media platform that the rally, billed as a “tribute to America,” will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, and that the fireworks will follow as “the largest fireworks show in history.” The president also said the event will include speeches and musical performances.
Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters that the delayed start is likely to affect families with young children, who may choose to watch the fireworks on television rather than remain on the Mall late at night. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she is weighing whether to keep her own young children awake for the display.
The fireworks will be launched from barges on the Potomac River, West Potomac Park, and the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has been fenced off for the celebration. The overall Independence Day program, titled “Salute To America,” will begin at 1 p.m. with musical acts and military flyovers, followed by a nighttime segment that includes performances by military bands and orchestras.
