Trump news – live: President delivers July Fourth speech as protests and storms threaten to overshadow event
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Donald Trump has delivered a speech at his “Salute to America” event in Washington DC, as the country celebrates Independence Day.
Earlier in the day on Thursday, he pleaded for people to attend his Fourth of July celebration amid fears of a low turnout and concerns that the heavy tanks on display could damage the Lincoln Memorial.
A new Morning Consult poll revealed the president to be losing support in key states he won in 2016, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Ohio and Florida, as his Republican opponent Justin Amash announces his resignation from the GOP in opposition to Mr Trump's "dehumanising rhetoric".
Undeterred, the president has been on angry form on Twitter, hitting out at migrants over reports of squalid conditions in US border detention centres and warning Iran against making threats by issuing one of his own: “They can come back to bite you.”
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Here's a reminder of what you can expect from the Salute to America this evening.
Another call for officials' private fears Trump has set himself up for a repeat of his inauguration and will be forced to make fresh Orwellian denials over the size of his crowd.
And one more shout for Trump's vicious attack on Justin Amash over his departure from the GOP having called for the president's impeachment.
Protesters have unveiled a giant statue of Trump which depicts the US president sitting on a toilet while tweeting on a mobile phone.
The statue has been uncovered at the National Mall ahead of the "Salute to America" Fourth of July event later this evening.
Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP
Trump and "Make America Great Again" merchandise is reportedly being sold from makeshift stalls along the parade route.
The US president has been criticised over the “Salute to America” event he is holding during this year's Independence Day.
He was accused of “hijacking the celebration and twisting it into a taxpayer-funded, partisan political rally that’s more about promoting a Trumpian cult of personality” by Democratic congresswoman Betty McCollum.
Trump’s speech during the “Salute to America” event could be a wash out as flash floods could hit parts of Washington later tonight.
The US National Weather Service has issued a warning until 8pm tonight.
Mr Trump’s address is due to take place at about 6.30pm.
The alert warns torrential rain could see more than two inches fall within a short period of time.
Donald Trump continues to fight a Supreme Court ruling to block a contentious citizenship question from appearing on the 2020 census.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump’s administration dropped its plans to ask census respondents whether they are US citizens or not.
But just hours before he plans to preside over Independence Day celebrations, he tweeted: “Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice are working very hard on this, even on the 4th of July!”
Crowds gather to watch as the Independence Day parade gets underway in Washington DC.
US presidential contender Joe Biden and two Democratic rivals marched in the same small-town parade in Iowa today.
Cheering crowds lined the streets to greet former vice president Mr Biden, former congressman Beto O’Rourke and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio as they marched in the annual holiday parade in the aptly-named town of Independence, which has a population of just 6,000.
The event was in sharp contrast to Trump’s plans to speak at Washington’s Lincoln Memorial surrounded by battle tanks and military flyovers.
Joe Biden gives a young attendee a coin (Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
People attend the Fourth of July parade in Independence, Iowa (Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
Beto ORourke and son Henry greet people in Independence, Iowa (Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
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