Donald Trump is coming under fire for plans to change a longtime tradition in Washington, D.C., turning the city’s Fourth of July celebration into something of a campaign rally that honors himself.
According to the Washington Post [1], Trump has taken a personal interest in his administration’s plan for July 4 celebrations in Washington D.C., and has notified city officials of plans to potentially alter the yearly celebration with a personal address.
WashPo reported Friday that plans are in the works for Trump to address the nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, while moving the city’s traditional fireworks display from the steps of the Capitol Reflecting Pool to nearby West Potomac Park.
Because Trump ruins everything.
The administration reportedly contends that moving the fireworks display will allow more visitors to attend the celebrations, on which top aides reportedly told the Post the president has requested regular briefings and plans to focus around an address from himself.
News of Trump’s reported plans to address the nation as part of July 4 celebrations come after the administration tabled plans to hold a military parade in the vein of Bastille Day celebrations in France following public backlash and criticism from Washington, D.C., officials.
An official with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) administration panned the reported July 4 plans in a statement to the Post, telling the newspaper that the city would have to reexamine logistics for the celebration once the White House’s plans were finalized.
“We have a lot of people come to the Fourth of July. Logistically, over the years, the kinks have been worked out,” the official reportedly said. “We don’t want to throw off what already works.”
Twitter was horrified:
Time for everyone to boycott Washington’s July 4th celebration which will be nothing more than a Trump rally. https://t.co/BdBqSEY8CJ [2]
— Pete Souza (@PeteSouza) May 11, 2019 [3]
Remember the non-partisan 4th of July that celebrated America?
Trump is ending it and turning it into a pep rally and celebration of Trump.https://t.co/3S3vhDqnp4 [4]
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) May 10, 2019 [5]
Trump is obsessed with becoming the "star of the show" for 4th of July, getting "involved in the minutiae of the planning" in ways he "does not exhibit for other admin. priorities."
Who cares about Iran, North Korea and China when there are fireworks. https://t.co/KmhatR9AiB [6]
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) May 11, 2019 [7]
I love this. Trump is going to spend months trying to make July 4th about him and Americans aren’t going to give a shit.
Nobody watches TV on the 4th. Nobody skips their local fireworks to watch an orange-faced putz bloviating on TV.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) May 11, 2019 [9]
Trump is spending our tax dollars to have a salute to him on July 4th. Will trump introduce a special salute to him at the event-perhaps requiring us to raise one arm up as show of loyalty ? https://t.co/Ky2d133Tzd [10]
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) May 11, 2019 [11]
If Trump really wants to make July 4th all about him, he could drop dead that day, just like Founding Fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) May 11, 2019 [12]
I think this is terrible. Our President it subverting the 4th of July celebration in Washington DC into a partisan rally to serve his interests. https://t.co/VcbLJwI4QN [13]#BoycottTrumps4th [14]
— Winnie Hull (@winnieH73) May 11, 2019 [15]
Trump is now planning to host a 4th of July celebration around himself on public land in Washington DC
Basically it's a partisan campaign rally on our nation's birthday
I call on America to host their very own "Largest Protest Ever" at the same location on the same day
RETWEET
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) May 11, 2019 [16]