Huge crowds of Americans converged on Washington DC Thursday, as they always do on the 4th of July.
But this year is different from any other, because there will be two separate events: the traditional Independence Day celebration, with a parade, a concert and fireworks — and what President Trump calls “the show of a lifetime” at the Lincoln Memorial, featuring a speech by “your favorite President, me!”
As thousands of visitors gathered during the day, it was difficult to guess how many were there to remember and honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence 243 years ago, and how many were drawn to the National Mall by Trump’s unprecedented appearance. Some, no doubt, were there for both.
“The Fourth of July in Washington is usually celebrated without participation from the occupant of the Oval Office or any political overtones,” says the New York Times.
The Trump show, resembling a campaign rally on steroids, includes a display of military hardware — including two 70-ton Abrams M1A2 main battle tanks — and multiple flyovers to accompany his speech, beginning with one of the jets that serve as Air Force One when the president is aboard.
Then Trump — who famously avoided service during the Vietnam War — will speak about the Armed Forces, one by one.
“He will first talk about the Coast Guard, with his remarks being followed by the Coast Guard flyover. This format will be repeated for the Air Force, then the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Army,” followed by a precision demonstration by the Navy’s Blue Angels, reports CNN.
Thousands of service members were ordered to bolster the crowd — “to create a made-for-television moment,” says the Times — and a large area in front of the memorial was set aside for VIPs, many with tickets from the Republican National Committee, also a first for the Fourth.
“But Mr. Trump’s decision to turn [the] celebration into a kind of Trump-branded rally for America has drawn criticism from Democrats, top representatives of the city government and many military officials who believe the president is using the troops and their gear as political props,” the Times says.
Putting tanks and troops on display is “not the American way” to honor the military, said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
There will, of course, be protesters. The National Park Service granted a permit to demonstrators who will fly a giant “Trump baby” balloon on the Mall, less than a mile from where the president will speak.
And, says CNN, “Anti-Trump veterans will hand out T-shirts for the USS John McCain in order to troll Trump, who has belittled the dead senator and former prisoner of war.”
