Tag Archives: Fourth Of July

From a strange video posted to Twitter yesterday: As we celebrate our independence today, as we celebrate our birth as a nation, the day that kick-started a revolution to gain our sovereignty, let’s admit that this last year, this trip around the sun, was also another head-scratcher. But let’s also remember that we’re babies as a country. We’re basically going …

The Washington Post reports: The crowds that typically flow into the District on Independence Day to line the streets for a parade or to get a prime spot on the Mall to see the fireworks were markedly thinner this year. Dan Stessel, a Metro spokesman, said that as of 9 p.m., there were 34,000 trips taken on Metrorail for Saturday, …

Politico reports: Unlike last year, the July Fourth celebration will not include static displays on the mall of military ground equipment such as Bradley fighting vehicles, the two defense officials said. It was not immediately clear why the administration decided to eliminate the static displays this year, but their exclusion will likely reduce cost and crowds on the national mall. …

Via press release from the Pentagon: Secretary Esper has approved a Department of the Interior request for DOD support to the 2020 Salute to America. DOD will provide aerial, musical and ceremonial support to this year’s celebration in Washington, D.C. This year’s support will also include a flyover of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, as well an aerial salute to …

The Week reports: President Trump will visit Mount Rushmore on July 3 to see the fireworks display he helped facilitate, even as uncertainty over the pandemic stretches into the summer. Earlier this week, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) confirmed the Independence Day celebration would go forward. “We’re excited that this will be happening at Mount Rushmore,” Noem said, as …

“In June of 1775, the Continental Congress created a unified Army out of the Revolutionary Forces encamped around Boston and New York, and named after the great George Washington, commander in chief. The Continental Army suffered a bitter winter of Valley Forge, found glory across the waters of the Delaware and seized victory from Cornwallis of Yorktown. “Our Army manned …

The Hill reports: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday spoke out against President Trump’s 4th of July celebration and his controversial decision to display tanks and other military hardware on the National Mall during the festivities. Clinton joins other Democrats in slamming Trump’s Independence Day “Salute to America. Trump confirmed to reporters in the Oval Office Monday that …

Raw Story reports: President Donald Trump tried to drum up interest in his flagging Fourth of July spectacle by hinting that Air Force One and military vehicles might engage in some stunts to entertain onlookers. The president sounded a bit like historic showman P. T. Barnum — to whom he’s often compared — in announcing some of the exhibitions the …

Mother Jones reports: Mother Jones obtained a photo of a card that is being distributed to participating service members with instructions from the Pentagon about what to say—and not to say—when speaking with members of the media. The Department of Defense would like service members to be clear that they are “proud” on several levels. Under the overall messages, the …

Talking Points Memo reports: A giant robot designed to look like President Trump tweeting while sitting on the toilet, which made its debut in London during the president’s recent visit, will follow the president to D.C. on July 4th to protest his “Salute to America” celebration. Activists with CODEPINK, which will be bringing the popular “Baby Trump” blimp to D.C. …

The Washington Post reports: The Independence Day weather forecast is threatening to put a damper on President Trump’s “Salute to America” event on the National Mall. A spokeswoman for the Department of the Interior said the agency expects Thursday’s events “to take place rain or shine.” But with a chance of storms in the Washington, D.C., area, it’s unclear whether …

Politico reports: President Donald Trump on Wednesday downplayed the mounting cost of his ambitious Fourth of July celebration, saying the price tag “will be very little compared to what it is worth.” The president on Wednesday did not specify the projected costs for Thursday’s event, but the $2.5 million Park Service figure to just partially cover costs would be larger …

The Hill reports: The nation’s top defense officials are slated to attend President Trump’s “Salute to America” event Thursday on the National Mall, adding to the military-style celebration that will also include tanks and flyovers. Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and acting Air Force Secretary Matthew …

Politico reports: President Donald Trump’s controversial takeover of the Fourth of July celebration at the National Mall won’t completely take over the cable airwaves. MSNBC, for one, doesn’t plan to carry his “Salute to America” live, though the network will assess in real-time whether to air clips of the event, a spokesperson told POLITICO. Fox News is planning to cover …

The Washington Post reports: The White House is distributing tickets for President Trump’s July Fourth speech on the Mall to Republican donors and political appointees, prompting Democratic lawmakers to question whether the administration’s planned celebration violates federal ethics rules. The Republican National Committee confirmed on Tuesday that it had received some passes to Trump’s address at the Lincoln Memorial, which …

McClatchy reports: The next generation “Marine One” presidential helicopter will make its first public flight at President Donald Trump’s July 4 event, two U.S. officials confirmed to McClatchy. The helicopter is not in official use yet. It is being produced by a team from Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky. In the last few months the helicopter has flown test flights around …

“It’ll be like no other. I’m going to say a few words and we’re going to have planes going overhead, the best fighter jets in the world, and other planes, too. And we’re going to have some tanks stationed outside. You’ve got to be pretty careful with the tanks, because the roads have a tendency not to like to carry …

The Washington Post reports: National Park Service acting director P. Daniel Smith faces plenty of looming priorities this summer, from an $11 billion backlog in maintenance needs to natural disasters like the recent wildfire damage to Big Bend Park. But in recent days, another issue has competed for Smith’s attention: how to satisfy President Trump’s request to station tanks or …

The Washington Post reports: Plans by President Trump to reshape Washington’s Independence Day celebration now include an area in front of the Lincoln Memorial reserved for dignitaries, family and friends that will be accessible only through tickets distributed by the White House. The VIP section will stretch roughly from the steps of the memorial to the midpoint of the reflecting …

The Associated Press reports: President Donald Trump’s participation in the nation’s annual Fourth of July celebration will include a Trump speech honoring America’s armed forces, along with music, military demonstrations and flyovers, the administration announced Wednesday, about two weeks before the patriotic holiday. Federal lawmakers, local officials and others have voiced concerns that Trump could alter the tone of what …