What to expect at Trump’s epic 4th of July ‘Salute to America’ bash: ‘People will be in awe’
By Victor Nava
Updated July 3, 2026, 8:15 a.m. ET
Thousands of fireworks, more than two dozen military flyovers and a reflective speech by President Trump – that won’t be apolitical – are some of what revelers willing to brave the heat can expect at Saturday night’s “Salute to America” bash in Washington, DC.
The grand festivities on the National Mall to commemorate America’s 250th birthday promise to be a “once in a lifetime” event, giddy organizers told The Post, even as planners scrambled to keep attendees safe from the scorching temperatures expected in the nation’s capital.
Here’s how the celebration will unfold on July 4:
At 1:14 p.m. ET, one of NASA’s supersonic F-5 light fighter jets will streak across the sky over Washington – the first in a steady stream of aircraft set to fly over the National Mall.
Freedom 250’s jam-packed schedule lists multiple aircraft flyovers and demonstrations taking place every hour up until 8:22 p.m.
The US Navy Blue Angels; the US Air Force Thunderbirds; F/A-18F Super Hornets; F-22 Raptors; F-35 stealth fighters; and US Coast Guard helicopters and fixed-wing planes are among the aircraft slated to treat the crowd.
The US Army’s Golden Knights parachutists will make multiple jumps, while Trump’s new Air Force One is set to make a couple passes over the festivities.
The flyovers will be capped off by a B-1 stealth bomber performing an “afterburner night pass” at 10:36 p.m. – just after Trump’s speech and right around the time the fireworks spectacular will take place.
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https://nypost.com/2026/07/03/us-news/what-to-expect-at-trumps-epic-july-fourth-salute-to-america-bash-people-will-be-in-awe/
