Donald Trump Says July 4 America 250 Celebration At Lincoln Memorial Will Be A Trump Rally

President Donald Trump said Monday he would be closely involved in America’s 250th anniversary celebration on the National Mall, casting the July Fourth event as one of his political rallies.

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Axios

Trump wrote on Truth Social that “On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ‘TRIBUTE TO AMERICA.’”

CNN

The event is slated near the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, and Trump said it would start at 7 P.M. EST.

Trump also said the program would include performances from “more than 300 Members of our strong and talented Military Bands, Orchestras, and Ceremonial Units,” along with “Patriotic Melodies and American Classics.”

Freedom 250, the public-private White House-backed partnership charged with coordinating events to mark the country’s semiquincentennial, does not describe the July 4th event as a “Trump rally,” instead calling it a “Salute To America 250 Celebration & Fireworks.”

Freedom 250’s event description says, “As America marks its 250th anniversary, Salute to America will stand as a defining celebration of the people, principles, and patriotic spirit that make the United States the greatest nation in the world,” and it does not mention the president by name.

Deadline

Trump’s reframing came after a concert series for the “Great American State Fair” saw performer withdrawals, and Forbes reported that Trump confirmed plans for a “kick off” celebration on June 24 after most artists dropped out.

Forbes also quoted rapper Young MC saying, “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” as the cancellations fed concerns that the 250th celebrations were becoming partisan.

Trump said the July 4 rally would end with “the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY,” and he also described it as including “incredible Flyovers and Airshows” with “our Top Military Pilots and Equipment.”

“Donald Trump confirmed expectations that he will try to turn America’s 250th anniversary celebrations into a rally centering on him and his presidency”

Deadline

USA Today reported that Trump said the “Tribute to America” rally starting at 7 p.m. ET on July 4 would include more flyovers and airshows, and it said the UFC Freedom 250 event opened with a flyover by 12 Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.

The same USA Today account said more than 300 members of military bands, orchestras and ceremonial units would perform patriotic songs and American classics, and it quoted Trump saying, “This ensemble will be the largest formation of Joint Military Music and Ceremonial performances in History.”

Forbes added that Trump said the July 4 rally would include “flyovers and ‘keynote remarks that you will not want to miss,’” while the Freedom 250-run Great American State Fair was set to run from June 25 to July 10 in Washington D.C.