With just over two weeks until Independence Day, we finally have an official announcement about how President Donald Trump plans to upend years of tradition on the National Mall.
The president will lead a “celebration of America’s military with music, military demonstrations, and flyovers” from the Lincoln Memorial, according to the Department of the Interior. And as has been reported previously, the fireworks display will be launched from West Potomac Park rather than the National Mall.
Trump has branded his version of the national July 4 celebrations on the Mall as “A Salute To America,” which will be a one-hour event at the Lincoln Memorial from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”), the Armed Forces Chorus, the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team, and others will take part in the program, but few other details have been released.
The flyover will include an Air Force One jetliner, the Washington Post reported, citing officials who have been briefed on the plans.
“For the first time in many years, the World War II Memorial and areas around the Reflecting Pool will be open for the public to enjoy a stunning fireworks display and an address by our Commander-in-Chief. We are excited to open these new areas so that more visitors may experience this year’s Independence Day celebration in our nation’s capital,” Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said in a statement (the president has reportedly made the event a major priority for Bernhardt.)
The remaining schedule of events looks a lot like a regular July 4—including the annual parade and Capitol Fourth concert.
- National Independence Day Parade – Constitution Avenue NW from 7th Street to 17th Street NW
11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Marching bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams, and more celebrate Independence Day in this patriotic, flag-waving, red, white and blue celebration of America’s birthday!- Salute to America – Lincoln Memorial
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
President Trump leads a celebration of America’s military with music, military demonstrations, and flyovers. Gates open at 3:30 p.m.- A Capitol Fourth Concert – West Lawn the U.S. Capitol
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Symphony Orchestra, A Capital Fourth honors our nation’s 243rd birthday with an all-star salute of the best in American entertainment. Gates open at 3 p.m.- Fireworks Display
9:07 p.m. – 9:27 p.m.
Independence Day culminates with a spectacular fireworks display over the National Mall. The fireworks will be launched from West Potomac Park and behind the Lincoln Memorial. They will be visible from locations throughout D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Trump announced “A Salute for America” after plans for a military parade, inspired by France’s Bastille Day, were cancelled.
But since the president’s first missive—a tweet in February that people should “HOLD THE DATE” for one of the “biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C. on July 4th,” including a “major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite President, me!”—the plans have been shrouded in confusion and mystery.
He quickly clarified that “A Salute To America” would actually be the same as the National Park Service’s annual Independence Day showcase, which had been largely unchanged for years.
But D.C. officials said they were kept out in the dark about what was happening. And organizers for the “A Capitol Fourth” concert, which takes place on the West Lawn of the Capitol, announced that their celebration was unaffiliated with “any other July Fourth celebrations.”
In addition to moving the fireworks from Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to West Potomac Park to allow for a bigger crowd, Trump reportedly sought to add a second fireworks display. But the official announcement of events makes no mention of an additional pyrotechnics show, and a spokesperson for the National Park Service did not respond to an immediate request for comment.
Meanwhile, many Washingtonians are planning to boycott the annual celebration.
And Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Senator Chris Van Hollen are urging lawmakers to add $6 million to a fund that covers the city’s spending on support for federal events—and that’s before taking into account the costs of Trump’s July 4 events. The federal government still owes D.C. more than $7 million stemming from additional expenses incurred during Trump’s inauguration in 2017, the Washington Post reported.
“It is important to note that the spend rate does not factor in the substantial unanticipated costs for President Trump’s July 4th speech and activities at the Lincoln Memorial,” they wrote in a letter. “Since the July 4th program has not yet been set, those costs are still unknown.”
Rachel Sadon