Donald Trump is pressing ahead with a July 4 speech at Mount Rushmore on Thursday night despite a fierce US heatwave and public warnings from a leading cardiologist that the outdoor rally could be medically dangerous for both the president and his supporters.
The July 4 address is billed as a centrepiece of the America 250 celebrations at the South Dakota monument, with Trump scheduled to speak at about 9.45pm local time before a planned fireworks display. The event will unfold as large swathes of the United States grapple with extreme temperatures, with forecasts suggesting conditions at Mount Rushmore could still feel punishingly hot even after sunset.
