Heat, Hurdles and a Late-Night Fireworks Finale on the National Mall

Despite record heat, lightning threats and an evacuation on the National Mall, the Freedom 250 Fourth of July fireworks finally lit up the sky after a late reopening, with Trump delivering a late-night speech and the show lasting about 40 minutes; many waited hours in the heat and rain, and air quality remained unhealthy for hours afterward, while organizers pursued Guinness World Records verification for the pyrotechnics.