White Nationalist March And Weather Overshadow D.C.'S Fourth Of July Celebration

A group of masked men marched briefly around the U.S. Capitol on Saturday morning, carrying Confederate flags during Washington's 250th anniversary celebration. Police say the group left before 11 a.m. Images from the march, including one showing a woman surrounded by the group on the city's Metro, spread quickly online.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum responded to the march, saying he could never agree with what the group stands for, though he pointed to free speech protections that he said make democracy messy.

The march came during a weekend already marked by disruption. A storm threat forced organizers to evacuate crowds from the National Mall, pushing the annual fireworks show back to around midnight. The delay came right after a speech from President Trump that mixed patriotic and political messaging. "We're celebrating freedom's triumph over tyranny," Trump said, before adding, "America will never be a communist country, won't happen."

Trump used the speech to push his Save America elections overhaul bill, which he's made his top priority heading into the midterms, despite Senate Republicans saying it doesn't have the votes to pass. "All voters must provide a little thing called proof of citizenship, and there will be no mail-in ballots," Trump said.

The president also intervened in a soccer controversy over the weekend. According to a source familiar with the conversation, Trump called the head of FIFA, the organization that runs the World Cup, and asked him to review the suspension of U.S. men's national team striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had been set to miss Sunday's match against Belgium following a controversial red card in the team's last game, but he's now been cleared to play. Trump thanked FIFA on Truth Social for reversing what he called "a great injustice."

Trump leaves later today to meet with European allies at the NATO summit in Turkey, a key moment for an alliance he's frequently criticized.