Trump mixes patriotism with partisanship on America’s ‘joyous’ 250th anniversary
Steven Sloan And Michelle Price
Washington: President Donald Trump combined partisan politics with patriotic appeals as he celebrated the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, declaring the moment “one of the most joyful and glorious milestones of all time.”
Speaking in Washington after storms forced the evacuation of the National Mall for two hours, Trump addressed the US government, including World War II. It honored veterans, including World War II veterans and the first black officers to lead a special forces team in combat in Vietnam.
They appeared in front of flags symbolizing some of the most important and challenging moments in American history, from the flag draped over Abraham Lincoln’s coffin to the flags flown on the plane piloted by the Wright Brothers.
Trump also delved into unusual partisan territory for his Independence Day speech, which presidents often use as a moment to unite the country.
He stumbled again with the SAVE America Act, an election bill that faced challenges even from Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress, emphasizing his support for the Second Amendment and reviving accusations of communism; all of which are becoming increasingly central to Trump’s messaging ahead of the November midterm elections.
The speech highlighted a holiday that Trump has gone to great lengths to shape to his liking.
He was introduced by two musical artists who frequently appeared at his distinctive rallies; among them was Lee Greenwood. God Bless America. Organizers of the event were largely aligned with the White House, replacing a bipartisan event launched by Congress a decade ago.
“We will always be on top,” Trump said. “We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.”
Anticipations for this landmark holiday have been building for much of the year, offering Americans an opportunity to reflect on their complex history as once colonists of an empire that became a superpower in their own right.
Organizers of the months-long celebration have been forced to adjust or cancel events altogether as much of the East Coast swelters under impending heat, in many cases exceeding triple digits (Fahrenheit).
The temperature determines the weekend
Severe weather forced the cancellation of celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, as well as Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Spectators at fireworks and concerts in Boston were told to seek shelter for a short time before events resumed. Evacuation orders were also issued in Philadelphia. New York and Pittsburgh went ahead with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate changing weather conditions.
The disruption was particularly severe in Washington; Signs at the Great American State Fair posted a warning encouraging attendees to leave the area shortly after 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Crowds gathered at museums, subway stations and federal buildings near the Mall. At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, they waited on chairs and sat on the floor to cool off in the air conditioning.
A few hours before the evacuation, crowds were forming in the area. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, New York, watched her three grandchildren dip their hands into a pool of water near a museum. Hale pointed to the sky and told them to look up as three military jets roared overhead.
“If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American,” he said.
David Koshko, 42, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Jennifer Koskho, came to Washington for a baseball game but planned to stay for the fireworks display in town. After baking for hours during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ win over the Washington Nationals, they took a break in the shadow of an overpass near the National Mall to plan their next stop.
“Just being a part of the 250-year (anniversary) is amazing,” said David Koshko, a commercial driver and Marine Corps reservist.
Fireworks began exploding at noon in Philadelphia, near the birthplace of the nation, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress.
Hundreds of visitors had gathered at Independence Hall in the sweltering heat to await celebrations that began with holiday commemorations and coincided with the France-Paraguay World Cup qualifying match at Philadelphia Stadium.
Carlos Alban, who came to Philadelphia from Chicago to watch the match, said when he arrived at the stadium, “There’s a big party here,” adding that he saw a fan dressed as one of the Founding Fathers in the parking lot.
In New York, tall ships with masts, rigging and white sails against a blue sky paraded around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, reminiscent of America’s 1976 bicentennial celebrations.
The 43 ships were followed by an aerial display of might by a stealth bomber and the Navy’s Blue Angels. The French Air Force’s aerobatic team, Patrouille de France, flew over New York Harbor with its red, white and blue tracks reminiscent of the American flag.
“We woke up early and rode our bikes about a mile down here to see the scene,” said Oona Moore, a Jersey City resident who attended the New York festivities.
“We’ve seen tall ships and we’ve seen planes, you know, all different types of military aircraft. I’ve never seen it this close and in the sky at the same time.”
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, people took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens. They stood with their eyes closed and their hearts in their hands to sing the National Anthem.
In Phoenix, Steven Dortch, 25, and his brother JayLn Dortch, 23, gathered in Granada Park on the Fourth of July to create a new culinary tradition. JayLn Dortch said young people in the United States give him hope by thinking for themselves and not taking the words of elders at face value.
He said the country should keep in mind the everyday, hard-working people who “keep America going.”
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