President Donald Trump has marked the 250th Independence Day of the US with a warning on national cohesion as well as fair elections and a free press.
"On this wonderful occasion of the 250th birthday of the United States of America, we celebrate our history," Trump said in a letter shared by the New York Post.
Trump said that "in a spirit of generosity and with an expectation of cohesion, generations of Americans welcomed people from all corners of the globe to join them."
Warnings on civic institutions "We all had winning and cohesion in common — but this is a warning: We must not lose the cohesion," he warned.
"For the sake of America and the whole world, we must be strong, powerful and honest. We must have fair elections and a free and fair press, which we don’t have right now," Trump said.
Main Washington event evacuated
Speaking about national unity, Trump emphasised that Americans are "one family and one nation," united under the same flag and shared freedoms, and that "whenever our way of life has been threatened, we have responded."
"We are Americans. We never give in, we never give up, and our country is only going to get better than ever before," he said.
Trump was set to hold a political rally on the National Mall in Washington, as Americans celebrate the patriotic holiday with fireworks and parades.
The massive July Fourth celebration on Washington's National Mall was evacuated on Saturday due to an approaching severe thunderstorm, AFP news agency reporters said.
A few hours before President Donald Trump was due to deliver a campaign rally-style address to a crowd of tens of thousands, fierce wind gusts buffeted the sprawling grounds and lightning flashed nearby, prompting officials to order people to immediately seek shelter.
"For your safety directing all guests to immediately evacuate," officials announced, as most of the crowd started streaming toward exits to seek shelter in nearby museums and government buildings.
