Stage scare, storm and skydiver mishap mar Trump's Freedom 250 celebrations

A series of mishaps overshadowed the Freedom 250 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, with a stage rehearsal accident on the National Mall on Thursday, 2 July, a skydiver crash landing in California days earlier, and a severe thunderstorm that forced thousands to evacuate the National Mall on Saturday, 4 July, hours before President Donald Trump was due to speak. 

Stage debris falls during rehearsal

A large piece of stage structure fell from height onto the stage floor of the Salute to America stage on the National Mall during a rehearsal on Thursday, 2 July, narrowly missing performers. Footage of the moment was shared online by independent journalist Aaron Parnas and was later verified by CNN and NBC News.

According to the Daily Beast's account of the video, two groups of young dancers — roughly 18 in total, split into two groups of nine — were performing a routine to music when a large, rectangular piece of the structure fell, narrowly missing the group on stage right.

At least one dancer appeared to spot the object in mid-air before it struck the stage and ran clear. Two men were also standing at the side of the stage nearest the point of impact. After the impact, one of three female singers continued briefly before the music and dancing stopped. The name of the group rehearsing on stage was not immediately confirmed; the White House referred the Daily Beast to Freedom 250, which did not identify the group.

A Freedom 250 representative confirmed the incident to PEOPLE, saying work was under way on a different part of the stage from where the dancers were rehearsing when the debris fell. "We're grateful to report that everyone is safe," the representative said. "We take the safety of our performers, crew, volunteers, and guests extremely seriously."

The statement added: "The work underway was taking place on the backside of the stage, separate from the front thrust where performers were rehearsing. Additional safeguards and senior technical oversight are now in place as preparations continue." Organisers said performers "remain fully focused on delivering an unforgettable celebration for the American people" for the Fourth of July.

Heat wave prompts schedule changes

Separately, a heat wave over Washington prompted organisers to adjust the schedule for the Salute to America Celebration and Fireworks so that crowds would not be exposed to the worst of the heat.

Freedom 250 said on its website that it had coordinated with the US Park Police, National Park Service, US Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to adjust event timing and expand cooling resources, water stations and medical support. "The safety and well-being of every guest remains our top priority as we celebrate this historic 250th Independence Day," the organisation said.

Military flyovers over the National Mall were scheduled hourly from 1:15 p.m. until sunset on Saturday, 4 July, while the Washington Monument Grounds were not due to open until 5 p.m. to limit heat exposure. The Salute to America programme was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, with Trump due to deliver a speech at 9:45 p.m.

Turnout criticism at state fair

The stage incident followed criticism over attendance at the Great American State Fair, which Trump opened the previous Wednesday.

At the opening, Trump told a crowd that was leaving as he spoke: "On July 4th, we will have the greatest show of all on the National Mall. Your favorite president will be speaking. So please show up. Because if we have two empty seats, you know what's gonna happen? The fake news is gonna say, 'He didn't fill out the arena.'"

According to the Daily Beast, Trump had been "livid" about poor attendance at the fair, and some White House officials who shared photographs from the speech were told to delete them from their social media accounts.

In an early Monday morning post on Truth Social, Trump said: "Do you think people appreciate what a fantastic job we did in building and operating the Great American State Fair at the National Mall, packed with happy people, and everybody loving it? Ask yourself this simple question, 'DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?' THE ANSWER IS NO!"

Skydiver crash-lands in California

In a separate incident during the 250th anniversary celebrations, skydiver Ross Vail crashed while parachuting with a large American flag attached to his parachute near the Folsom Pro Rodeo in California. According to the Daily Beast, Vail was landing when the flag snagged on a tree, sending him into a tent and narrowly missing grandstands and a crowd that gasped as he fell. The Hindustan Times, citing another report, said Vail had been gliding smoothly toward the arena near Sacramento with the flag flying behind him before the flag caught in a nearby tree, causing him to lose control.

A spokesperson for Choose Folsom, which organises the annual event, told the Sacramento Bee: "Yesterday's landing was certainly not the landing he intended, but thankfully, the skydiver is doing well." Vail cut his lip in the incident but no other injuries were reported, and he resumed parachuting the following day.

In a statement reported by Unilad, Folsom Pro Rodeo organisers said Vail was unfazed by the incident and was already planning to jump again the following night. "On behalf of the Folsom Pro Rodeo and Choose Folsom, our skydiver Ross is safe and walked into our arena, post jump, to a standing ovation," the statement said. "He will be skydiving into our arena again tonight, July 3rd."

Storm forces mass evacuation on Independence Day

The disruptions culminated on Saturday night, 4 July, when a severe thunderstorm forced organisers to evacuate the National Mall as celebrations were under way, according to Rolling Out. Just before 7:30 p.m., Freedom 250 — the nonprofit aligned with the White House that organised the Salute to America 250 event — ordered an immediate evacuation as severe weather moved through Washington. The National Park Service had issued an initial weather alert around 7:15 p.m. before officials escalated it, directing attendees to nearby federal buildings, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture and the Ronald Reagan Building.

Among the designated shelter locations was the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which filled to capacity quickly enough that more than 1,000 people were left waiting outside in the rain, Rolling Out reported.

Shelter choice draws attention

Rolling Out noted that the shelter arrangement drew attention because Freedom 250 draws heavily from supporters of Trump, whose administration has spent the past year focused on the Smithsonian Institution, which oversees the museum.

A March 2025 executive order accused the Smithsonian of promoting what it called a divisive, race-centred ideology, placing Vice President JD Vance in charge of reviewing and potentially removing content the administration deemed improper. The White House later ordered a broader review of all Smithsonian museums ahead of the 250th anniversary, aimed at replacing exhibits it considered too partisan.

Programme resumes after delay

Trump's speech, originally scheduled for 9:45 p.m., was pushed back as the weather cleared, with organisers later indicating he would speak around 11 p.m., according to Rolling Out. Attendees were eventually allowed back onto the National Mall once conditions improved, and the evening's programme resumed as planned, including a fireworks display that had been delayed by the storm.