| | | | Donald Trump brings the 🎇 fireworks 🎇 |  | | For the first time in recent history, a president has injected himself into the nation's Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall (traditionally a nonpartisan, apolitical event in the capital) complete with VIP access, a flyover by the Air Force One plane, a speech at the Lincoln Memorial, 35 minutes of fireworks and an all-around show of military might.
The fete is inspired in part by France's 2017 Bastille Day celebration -- at the time, specifically amped up to impress Trump (apparently it worked ... more on that below).
At his campaign launch rally last month, Trump encouraged his supporters to come out in full force. But it's not all easy rolling for Trump's tanks.
Trump's presence brings with it an inevitable politicization ... and protesters. There will be a giant balloon depicting Trump as a baby flying over part of the National Mall tonight, including while the President is expected to deliver his address. (The progressive group that successfully filed for the permit to fly the balloon says it's disappointed the balloon was not approved to fly within Trump's line of sight.)
The National Park Service is redirecting $2.5 million of its funds for costs related to the event. That money is being diverted from entrance and recreation fees that would normally be used to improve national parks across the country, according to The Washington Post.
The Point: One way or another, it's going to be a Fourth of July to remember.
-- Lauren | | "It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more."
-- John Adams musing in a 1776 letter to his wife, Abigail, on how Independence Day would be celebrated. | | | Soldiers marching down a major throughfare, a flyover by airplanes and helicopters and a jaunty finale performed by the military band.
If this description of France's 2017 Bastille Day celebration sounds familiar, it is -- the show of military might has served as the inspiration for President Donald Trump's "Salute to America" Fourth of July show.
The 2017 event featured thousands of French troops parading down the Champs-Élysées in a dramatic show of pageantry, including 241 horses, 63 airplanes and 29 helicopters advancing down and above the tree-lined avenue over two hours.
The show was all to strengthen the bond between France and the US from newly elected President Emmanuel Macron. And it left a strong impression on Trump. "We're going to have to top it. Planes going over. Lots of military might," Trump told Macron at the time. | | | The nation's capital can't have all the July Fourth fun. Check out the Boston Pops' 2018 fireworks spectacular! | |
JULY 4TH ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL | | The 2020 field is fanned out across the country this Independence Day -- with at least one candidate headed to Independence, Iowa, for the Fourth.
🌭 Who's BBQ'ing? Kamala Harris and John Delaney -- in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively.
🍦 Ice cream social, anyone? Bernie Sanders is keeping cool with a scoop or two.
👟 Kirsten Gillibrand is on the march: The parade march! She'll hit two parades in New Hampshire. In Nevada, Cory Booker is fueling up for his parade stop with a pancake 🥞 breakfast visit.
🔖 How do you make Independence Day in Independence, Iowa, any more extra? You read the Declaration of Independence! Beto O'Rourke is on the scene.
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