Fair, shows, military flights and fireworks: Washington dresses up as “Trumpland” for the 4th of July celebrations

The series of events that raised controversy, political divisions and little popular enthusiasmwill have its epicenter in the American capital with a speech by the head of the White House, but will cover the entire country.

The events formally begin this Friday night with a ceremony at Mount Rushmorein South Dakota, where the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are carved into the mountain.

Trump – who once suggested the idea of add your face sculpted into the historic monument—will give a speech, watch a fireworks show at one of the country’s most iconic monuments, and will return to Washington immediately for the big party on Saturday, where temperatures climb to 40 degrees and there is a forecast of storms with lightning.

The landscape of this capital has been transformed for days. It was inaugurated a huge fair in the Mall of this capital (the enormous green space that extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial), with a giant wheel like around the worldwhich includes pavilions with state flags, various scenarios and even a mini-rodeo where cowboys give demonstrations with their lassoes and dressage shows.

The entire show has Trump’s stamp. The pavilions pretend to be neoclassical (similar in style to his White House ballroom project) and in a central place is located a replica of the famous triumphal arch with a winged and golden statue of liberty on top that the president seeks to truly build en Washington.

“I don’t like these classic decorations, I don’t think they represent the country,” he told Clarion Jeannine, who came from Maryland with her family to visit the fair. “This is “Trumpland,” her husband states next to her with annoyance.

Coming from a more conservative state like West Virginia, Tom is looking to buy a commemorative t-shirt for 35 dollars. “We must celebrate the United States, our military and our president,” he says.

The heat is unbearable and there is no shade to take shelter. The children want to ride around the world, which is more than 30 meters high, but the wheel, which from the beginning had electrical problems, it takes too long.

Chance or history wanted it to be Trump, in his second term, the president who led the country on the anniversary and The Republican wanted to make the most of it promising, true to form, that it would be the most impressive celebration ever seen. And with his imprint, which never escapes controversy.

In the Treasury pavilion of the Fair, the novelty of “Trump Accounts” is promoted, which offer $1,000 to every American born between January 1 this year to December 31, 2028. Also offered is “Passport 250,” which is a limited independence anniversary version that includes the president’s image with the text of the Declaration of Independence.

The army also has its stands, with exhibition of tanks, fighters and a rescue robot, while on the giant screens Tom Cruise smiles in Top Gun. There were Democratic states like Massachusetts that did not want to install their pavilions.

Perhaps it is due to the heat wave or the lack of enthusiasm of so much Trumpist display in a capital with an immense Democratic majority, but in the week there wasn’t much movement. It was also expected that guests from all over the country would arrive these days.

With the celebrations, Trump seeks to resume the political initiative in a time of low popularity (57.8% disapproval of his management, according to the average of RealClearPolling surveys), bogged down in a war with Iran that has not yet been fully defined and with inflation that does not go down and alters the bad mood of Americans.

Even if you don’t admit it, This panorama worries the presidentfacing the November legislative elections in which he runs the risk of losing one or both cameras congressional.

In a deeply divided country, since its planning the celebrations were filled with political disputes. Originally the commemoration was to be coordinated by América 250, a bipartisan commission created by Congress in 2016 to organize the events.

But when he returned to the White House, Trump created by decree a new organization that he called Freedom 250 and with which he took the helm of the proceedings. Historians, Democratic lawmakers and former officials protested because they said the celebration lost its national character and bipartisan to be an act identified with Trump and his political agenda. Some artists who were going to participate They canceled their shows.

The ceremonies this Saturday in Washington begin with an event in front of the National Archives building and reenactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Shortly before noon there will be a military parade that will travel down Constitution Avenue, with military bands, delegations from the 50 states, floats and historical units.

It starts at 1 p.m. the program at the Fairwhere people will be able to move between the various pavilions and witness musical shows. But one of the most anticipated shows will be military overflights, approximately one per hour. According to the program, Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, F22, F35, B1, B2, B52 and historical aircraft will be seen.

At 5 in the afternoon, access to the large stage located near the Washington Monument will open, where there will be musical shows waiting for President Trump’s speech, which is scheduled for around 10 at night.

The official closing of the celebration will be when the head of the White House finish your messagewith which it was announced as the biggest show in fireworks organized so far for a 4th of July, accompanied by live music and final flyovers. Organizers estimate that the fire show will last about 40 minutes, but They pray that the rain does not ruin them the party.