Donald J. Trump hails “incredible” Independence Day crowds and air shows in Washington

announced a 10 p.m. speech at the Lincoln Memorial and pledged to repair Reflecting Pool damage after the holiday weekend.

First Published: July 4, 2026, 7:08 PM EST

WHITE HOUSE — Donald J. Trump celebrated Independence Day by praising large crowds and military air shows in Washington, D.C., in a Truth Social post on July 4, 2026, at 1:53 PM EST.

Here is the full post (see truthsocial): “Despite the heat, which isn’t as bad as predicted, the crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE! The love of our Country has never been stronger! The Air Shows are at a level never seen before – What great pilots, what great equipment!!! See you all later! Speaking at around 10:00 P.M. at The Lincoln Memorial. The Reflecting Pool looks great, despite all it went through with the Vandal Thugs. Will quickly drain and fix the damage done right after this big weekend. Happy Independence Day. Our Country is Stronger than EVER!!! Donald J. Trump”

Trump described the holiday crowds as “incredible” and said the national mood had never been stronger. He praised military pilots and their equipment, calling the air shows unprecedented in quality.

Trump announced he would deliver remarks at approximately 10 p.m. at the Lincoln Memorial. He noted the Reflecting Pool “looks great” but acknowledged unspecified damage he blamed on “Vandal Thugs,” pledging to drain and repair the pool after the holiday weekend.

The post did not detail what incident caused the damage or identify who was responsible. No official statement from the National Park Service or other federal agencies about Reflecting Pool vandalism was immediately available.

Trump’s Independence Day message fits a broader pattern of cultural commentary on his Truth Social account. In the last 30 days, 31 of 498 Trump posts addressed the topic of culture, a category that includes national celebrations, public events, and patriotic themes.