Authorities ordered people to leave the area around the Washington Monument after summer thunderstorms threatened the capital, raising uncertainty over the evening’s program. Freedom 250, the organization overseeing the celebrations, later said attendees would be allowed back into the venue and that Trump’s address had been postponed by one hour to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (0300 GMT).

Trump reinforced that message in a social media post, saying he would attend “no matter what” and urging supporters to continue with the festivities despite the delay.

The weather added to logistical challenges that had already affected the anniversary celebrations. Visitors endured enhanced security measures and temperatures reaching 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius), while an intense heat wave forced the cancellation of several parades and other outdoor events in and around Washington.

Long queues formed outside security checkpoints as thousands waited to enter the event site. Glen Solander, a 60-year-old software engineer visiting from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said enduring the difficult conditions was simply part of attending the national celebration.

The gathering also drew members of Patriot Front, a white nationalist organization that announced on social media it had traveled to Washington. Hundreds of individuals wearing the group’s distinctive attire were seen using Metro trains serving the Washington metropolitan area. Local police said they had received no reports of violence linked to the group’s presence.

The Independence Day commemorations have attracted heightened political attention under Trump’s administration. While previous U.S. presidents have generally avoided making in-person appearances at July 4 celebrations in the nation’s capital, Trump has taken a more visible role, blending official anniversary events with the style of his political rallies.

The administration-backed Freedom 250 organization has assumed a leading role in organizing the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations, largely eclipsing a bipartisan commission established in 2016 to oversee preparations for the 250th anniversary.

Large sections of the approximately 1.5-mile National Mall have been enclosed for what organizers describe as a “Great American State Fair.” The site includes a Ferris wheel, exhibitions by conservative organizations and displays from defense contractors. Freedom 250 says the fair is intended to highlight the people, achievements and innovations that have shaped the United States.

The celebrations have not attracted universal participation. Several states led by Democratic governors declined to send official delegations, while numerous performers scheduled to appear withdrew from the program, citing concerns that the anniversary events had become increasingly partisan. Trump formally launched the broader celebration with a rally on June 24.

Attendance at the fair was initially modest but increased significantly in recent days, resulting in entrance lines stretching for several city blocks. Businesses operating within Smithsonian Institution museums near the National Mall experienced near-record sales on Friday, according to Smithsonian executive Frank DiGiovine.

Freedom 250 has also sponsored additional events beyond the Independence Day program, including a faith rally featuring predominantly conservative Christian speakers and multiple sporting events. Among them is a planned mixed martial arts card on the White House grounds scheduled to coincide with Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14, as well as an IndyCar race planned for Washington in August.

Some of the organization’s initiatives, including promotional “Freedom Trucks,” have drawn criticism from opponents who argue they present an overly religious interpretation of American history while minimizing subjects such as slavery and racial injustice.

Public opinion reflects those divisions. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that most Americans believe events marking the nation’s 250th anniversary have become excessively political, including roughly three-quarters of Democrats and about half of Republicans.

The anniversary has also coincided with broader efforts by Trump to reshape parts of the U.S. capital ahead of the milestone. While numerous fountains and statues have been renovated, officials have encountered difficulties with a $15 million refurbishment of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where security personnel now patrol an area still affected by peeling paint and algae in the water.