NPR News: 07-05-2026 12AM EDT

Dale Willman· Host0:01

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump commemorated the 250th anniversary of America's independence Saturday night, but not before the National Mall in Washington, D.C. was temporarily evacuated because of a major storm nearby. In his remarks, he said America remains the greatest country on Earth.

Donald Trump· Soundbite0:19

For two and a half centuries, our American republic has stood as the crowning achievement of human history. This country is the home of freedom, this is the land of liberty, and this is a flag that's the banner of the most extraordinary, most exceptional, most incredible nation ever to exist on the face of the Earth, and we're doing better now than we've ever done before.

Dale Willman· Host0:47

Trump finished speaking a few moments ago. The celebration has been marred, however, by charges of politicization in the planning of the week-long series of events. A white nationalist group held a march in Washington, D.C. Saturday. Dozens of members wore uniforms and masks and carried Confederate flags for the march near Capitol Hill. Police reported no arrests. As high temperatures continue in the Eastern U.S., parts of Europe are also sweltering in another heat wave. It comes less than a week after record-breaking temperatures were set in several countries. And Portugal and Spain are now bracing for a rash of reports, uh, rash of wildfires. Alison Roberts reports.

Alison Roberts1:26

The last heat wave caused thousands of excess deaths in France