President Donald Trump ran all three of his campaigns on a pledge of putting “America first,” as well as making America great again.There’s no question he loves the country, which he constantly demonstrates, so it’s no surprise where he’s headed for this year’s July 4th celebration.Trump will kick off the nation’s America 250 celebration on Friday with a visit to Mount Rushmore, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech beneath the monument honoring Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
The appearance comes as Trump places himself at the center of the country’s 250th anniversary observances.
Some of his supporters have even introduced legislation proposing that his likeness be added to Mount Rushmore alongside the four presidents already depicted on the monument.
On Independence Day, Trump is expected to headline a large public event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., featuring a campaign-style rally, military flyovers and what the White House has described as the world’s largest fireworks display.
The events reflect Trump’s longstanding preference for high-profile public appearances as he leads the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations, Agence France Presse reported.
“Trump likes the spotlight, and I think he’s trying to take the spotlight,” Peter Loge, director of George Washington University’s School of Media, told AFP.
The nation’s 250th anniversary arrives at a time of deep political polarization, with Trump facing sharp partisan divisions as he leads the semiquincentennial celebrations.
Trump has faced criticism from Democratic opponents over issues including his immigration policies, the expansion of presidential authority and other aspects of his agenda.
Public opinion surveys have also reflected ongoing divisions over his presidency.
The administration’s effort to make the America 250 celebration a signature national event has at times encountered political controversy and logistical challenges, underscoring the broader partisan environment surrounding the anniversary.
A group known as Freedom 250, which is aligned with Trump, has assumed a prominent role in organizing many of the anniversary events, prompting criticism from some who argue the celebrations have become overly partisan.
The shift has led some organizations and attendees to distance themselves from certain official festivities.
A “Great American State Fair” held in Washington, D.C., as part of the semiquincentennial celebration has also drawn criticism from some observers, who pointed to lower-than-expected attendance and a number of unoccupied exhibits.
In June, Trump hosted a Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn that generated controversy after one fighter repeated a false claim about former first lady Michelle Obama during the broadcast.
The anniversary weekend also coincides with a dangerous heat wave expected to affect Washington and much of the eastern United States, as well as several FIFA World Cup knockout matches taking place across the country.
“On July 4 it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees (41C) out, and I’m going to go and I’m going to make a really long speech — just to show that I can do anything,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, though many ‘mainstream’ media outlets and Democrats continue to claim Trump is unpopular, polls and anedecdotal evidence suggest the opposite.
Earlier this week, for instance, Kentucky State Sen. Robin Webb switched her party affilation from Democrat to Republican.
It is a tough hit for the Democratic Party in the state, as Webb is from a rural area of Kentucky, which has been a stronghold for the blue party because of its union ties and coal-mining industry.
“First and foremost, I’m a mother, a rancher, and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky’s coal country,” the former Democrat said.
“As the Democratic Party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that hurt the workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values,” the former Democrat added.