In a delayed July 4th speech celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump addressed a crowd in Washington, D.C., after severe weather pushed back the event. He displayed several historic American flags, including one from the Battle of Saratoga and the flag that covered Abraham Lincoln’s casket. Trump recounted the story of William Carney, a formerly enslaved Union soldier who, during the 1863 assault on Fort Wagner, kept the regimental colors aloft despite being wounded multiple times. That soldier’s statement—that the flag never touched the ground—was highlighted by the president as an example of bravery. The president also introduced 103-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor Ken Schubring and honored eleven Gold Star families, underscoring themes of sacrifice and patriotism during the anniversary celebration.