During the United States’ 250th Independence Day celebrations in Washington, D.C., blistering heat exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit forced the cancellation of the parade and delayed the state fair, while heavy security fencing and road closures frustrated visitors. White supremacists and liberal activists both marched through the city, and a severe weather warning later prompted an evacuation of the National Mall. Against this backdrop of division and logistical chaos, and at a time when Gallup reported national pride at its lowest in 25 years, President Donald Trump — whose Freedom 250 team organized much of the capital’s events — posted a message on Truth Social asserting that affection for the country had never been greater.