President Trump ushered in the 250th anniversary of American independence on Friday with soaring rhetoric about American exceptionalism before veering into a darkly political speech with warnings about a sinister threat of communism that evoked one of the country’s ugliest chapters.

Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich has the latest on Independence Day celebrations and U.S. relations with Iran on 'Special Report.'

Communism "is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11," the president said.

President Donald Trump speaks as fireworks returned to Mount Rushmore for the America 250 celebration, marking 4th of July at the iconic monument.

Paul Pelosi, Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband, is facing hit-and-run charges in Napa County, California, in an incident that occurred on Friday, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities ruled out DUI in the Paul Pelosi hit-and-run, but the sheriff's office is submitting a driver re-evaluation referral to the California DMV.

Paul Pelosi, husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, allegedly struck an unoccupied, parked vehicle on the 6700 block of Yount Street in Yountville, around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office said.

Paul allegedly struck a parked car before driving away, telling authorities that he knew he had struck something but "did not know what he had hit"

Three children died after a boat capsized on Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake during a sudden storm on July 3. Seven other people were rescued, officials said.

Three people died and seven others were rescued after a boat capsized on a Wisconsin lake during a strong storm

Three people died and seven others were rescued following a boating accident caused by severe weather in Walworth County, Wisconsin (Credit:WITI).

Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. Posted: July 4, 2026 \. Three children died on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin after a boat cap

Michigan lawmakers worked overnight to pass a $75 billion bipartisan state budget for the 2027 fiscal year after missing their July 1 deadline for a second straight year.

Michigan lawmakers worked through the night Thursday and into Friday morning to pass an overdue state budget that includes an array of spending cuts.

The Michigan Legislature has passed a state budget after the leaders in both chambers reached a deal on the spending plan a few days late.

The 2027 budget includes no new statewide taxes or fees and preserves the state's rainy-day fund, according to lawmakers.

As many are celebrating America's 250th birthday, a threat of severe weather looms, as watches and warnings have been issued for most Illinois and northwest Indiana counties for Saturday. Storm Prediction Center has areas along and south of I-80 at a Level 1 (out of 5) for severe chances.

On Friday at 5:16 p.m. a severe thunderstorm watch was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 11 p.m. for Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.

Rounds of severe thunderstorms with wind gusts as high as 80 miles per hour and heavy lightning will roll through the Chicago area Friday evening into Saturday morning.

Several rounds of strong storms moved through the Chicago area Friday night, bringing torrential rain, lightning and high winds. A repeat system looks to be in the forecast Saturday.