Stage collapses at Freedom 250 rehearsal, no injuries

A portion of the main stage for President Donald Trump's upcoming Freedom 250 Independence Day celebration collapsed during a rehearsal on the National Mall on Thursday, narrowly missing performers and forcing a halt to preparations. The incident, captured on video, shows an overhead panel detaching and crashing down as dancers scrambled to safety.

Organizers confirmed no injuries were reported from the collapse, which occurred just days before Trump is scheduled to deliver a high-profile address on July 4. The rehearsal was for a performance at the Great American State Fair, a multi-day event that opened on June - and has faced a series of operational challenges. These have included power outages affecting vendors, malfunctioning rides, and criticism over high prices and sparse attractions.

The stage failure has intensified scrutiny over the rapid assembly and oversight of the massive infrastructure supporting the weeklong festivities. Freedom 250, the Trump-aligned nonprofit organizing the celebrations, did not immediately provide details on the cause of the collapse or whether additional inspections would be conducted. The incident adds to concerns about the event's rollout,...