July 4, 2026, served as the United States’ 250th birthday celebration, a day marred by an unprecedented heat wave punctuated by fireworks, flyovers and a series of political protests.

President Donald Trump seized the microphone at a delayed rally on Washington’s National Mall, declaring that the American dream is back. A procession of the new Air Force One followed by F22 Raptor jets also added to the spectacle. The fireworks display, the largest in US history with 850,000 bursts, lit up the sky as the crowd cheered.

The blistering heat, with temperatures soaring to 108°F (42°C) in Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, caused cancellations of the National Park Service’s Independence Day Parade in Washington, along with events across the East Coast, Colorado and parts of west‑coast states. Nearly 750,000 people in the east suffered power outages, while another 150,000 families in New Jersey lost electricity.

On the same day a white nationalist group, Patriot Front, marched in uniform through the streets of the capital, prompting police action after several threats were collected through social media and their Telegram channel.

The celebrations also honored new American citizens: at George Washington’s estate in Virginia, 150 naturalisation ceremonies took place, and a time capsule with a Coca‑Cola bottle, a signed Constitution, and state artefacts was buried for opening in 2266.

Music and culture filled the day: US‑born singers Ne‑Yo, Mary J Blige, the Smashing Pumpkins, Chaka Khan, Christina Aguilera and Will Smith performed in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, while the Philadelphia event marked the city’s historical role in drafting the Declaration of Independence.

The National Mall’s fireworks and the flyover of Air Force One were accompanied by a heavy downpour that forced an evacuation. Volunteers handed out bottled water and the crowd, after the final bloom, fled the crowds amid light rain at 1 a.m.

A message from former presidents highlighted the anniversary’s significance: Joe Biden spoke of equality, Barack Obama urged continued progress, George W Bush called for active citizenship, and Bill Clinton reflected on the deep divisions confronting the nation.

The day’s history was chronicled in social media clips and a BBC‑produced video that captured the roaring fireworks and the flier sounds.