Donald Trump Says He Overturned Cancellation of Fourth of July Celebration

President Donald Trump asserted at a press briefing and on his social‑media platform that he personally reversed a recommendation to cancel the "Salute to America" Fourth of July event on the National Mall after storms prompted an evacuation. Trump claimed the crowd numbered about 375,000 (later quoted as 422,000) before the evacuation and said roughly 150,000 remained after the weather cleared. The Washington Post reported that none of the crowd figures have been independently verified. A U.S. Secret Service spokesperson indicated the event began with "more than 100,000" attendees, suggesting a lower figure than Trump’s estimates. The gathering, part of the Freedom 250 festival, has faced criticism for low turnout, construction problems and an overall perception of being a political flop. Discrepancies between Trump’s statements and available evidence have fueled further debate about the event’s actual size and the president’s handling of the cancellation recommendation.