Trump news – live: President delivers July Fourth speech as protests and storms threaten to overshadow event

Despite the minor humiliation of the aforementioned advertising gaff, the Trump administration is far outpacing the fundraising efforts of Barack Obama's team when the 44th president was seeking a second term back in 2012.

Obama's former veep, Joe Biden, just secured $21.5m (£17.1m) for his own bid in the second quarter, with Pete Buttigieg raking in an impressive $24.8m (£19.7m) but neither man is close to the $105m (£83.5m) the Trump camp just reported. 

Here's Melissa Blake for Indy Voices on how disgust over Trump's "Salute to America" means she will be celebrating the Fourth of July differently this year.

Also for Indy Voices, here's Lauren Duca on the US-Mexico detention centres.

Trump begins his Independence Day by yammering on about the census, attempting to place more pressure on his Commerce and Justice departments to force through the added question despite opposition from the Supreme Court and resignation from members of his own administration like Wilbur Ross.

Only then does he wish the nation a Happy Fourth. 

As it contemplated military action against Iran last month, the Trump administration opened the door to virtually every legal authority at its disposal to justify the attack, from tying Tehran to al-Qaeda to the president promising he would not involve American ground troops and declaring that any skirmish "wouldn’t last very long", The Washington Post reports.

Here's Trump's latest sales pitch.

Paediatrician Dolly Lucio Sevier recently visited a US Border Patrol detention centre in McAllen, Texas, and is the latest to come forward with a horror story about the appalling conditions she found migrants living under.

Here's Jon Sharman with the latest on the humanitarian crisis..

Mystery continues to surround vice president Mike Pence's sudden cancellation of an appearance in New Hampshire on Tuesday night to return to the White House. No explanation appears forthcoming.

For Americans seeking to avert their eyes from the president's Washington vanity project on Independence Day, there are any number of other events taking place in cities across the States, from the famed Macy's fireworks show over the East River in New York to the Boston Pops Orchestra performing on the shores of the Charles River and naturalisation ceremonies for new citizens taking place at venues like the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia and George Washington's plantation at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Here's a history of one of America's weirdest Fourth of July customs: the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

The president's son, Don Jr, has attempted to wade into the controversy surrounding Nike's withdrawal of Fourth of July trainers after athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick argued the incorporation of the original Betsy Ross stars-and-stripes flag into the design provided an unwelcome reminder of slavery.

But Jr's spoof suggestion the sportswear brand opt for the Soviet hammer and sickle instead backfired badly when the majority decided they actually genuinely liked them.

Here's Lowenna Waters for Indy100.