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US Defense Secretary Hegseth on Thursday faced protesters while hosting the Trump administration’s DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force ceremony in Washington DC.

During the ceremony at Meridian Hill Park, which saw the gathering of National Guardsmen, dozens of demonstrators gathered near the park to protest Hegseth.

Footage shows the demonstrators chanting a short distance away from where Hegseth and roughly 200 members of the National Guard had gathered in the park

In social media posts, one protester was seen holding a Palestinian flag, while another person was holding a sign that reads “arrest Hegseth.” The protesters want a “Free DC,” according to social media posts.

In his address to the National Guard, Hegseth said that “this background noise is perfect,” referring to the protests.

“It’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude—of people who are so blinded by ideology they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them,” he said.

Meridian Hill Park was repaired by the National Park Service and the Interior Department as part of a larger initiative to restore and enhance federal parks and public spaces throughout the nation’s capital in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary, which falls on this Saturday, July 4.

Though such beautification projects are typically popular with the public, the current initiative has been controversial both for its choice of projects and the use of no-bid contracts to hire firms to do the work, sometimes with disappointing results.

The work aligns with President Donald Trump’s DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force, established by a March 2025 executive order that directs federal agencies to coordinate public safety and beautification efforts across Washington.

By Jim Stefkovich, Meteorologist, Alabama Emergency Management Agency

CLANTON –Thursday, 12:00 pm, July 2, 2026

Similar to yesterday, models indicate widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms developing mainly across the northern half of the state this afternoon and continuing into the early evening hours.  Especially near and north of I-20, clusters of strong-to-severe thunderstorms are possible, with damaging wind gusts of 50-65 mph, hail, and torrential rain.  There is no tornado threat.   All precipitation will end across the state sometime between 9 pm and 12 am.

Hot and humid conditions will continue through at least next Tuesday, with highs in the 90s and lows only reaching the middle 70s.  Heat index values could reach 110-114 in a few spots in northern Alabama, with 100-110 across the rest of the state today.  From Friday through the holiday weekend, afternoon heat index values will generally range from 100 to 107.  The Heat Advisories will likely be extended into the weekend for northern and central Alabama.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Children and pets should NEVER be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

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Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are again forecast during the afternoons and evenings across the northern half of the state both Friday and Saturday, with scattered thunderstorms statewide from Sunday through at least next Tuesday.   A few storms each day could produce wind gusts from 40-60 mph and frequent lightning.

Since this is a holiday weekend with a lot of outdoor activity, make sure you remain weather aware.  If you hear thunder, you are most likely within range of being struck by lightning.  Don’t become a statistic!  When thunder roars, go indoors.