Lightning was seen and strong winds swept across the area. This meant that tens of thousands of people who had gathered there, hours before Trump was expected to speak, were immediately urged to seek shelter.
“Freedom 250 will announce updates on the programme and when the doors reopen,” Danielle Alvarez, spokesperson for the White House Freedom 250 project, said in a statement.
The call to evacuate the park was heard over loudspeakers in the open park. While some people headed for the exits, others appeared to remain standing when the call was heard, with some shouting “Trump! Trump!”
We are evacuating, people were shouted at, and the National Guard told people to leave.
The event is part of the celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
