President Trump’s Independence Day “Salute to America” could be canceled if Democratic lawmakers get their way.
Ten Democrats representing Washington, D.C., and its suburbs — Reps. Don Beyer, Steny Hoyer, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Gerry Connolly, Jennifer Wexton, Jamie Raskin, Anthony Brown, and David Trone and Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen — wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt asking that the second iteration of the event be canceled.
2019’s Fourth of July event drew thousands of onlookers to the National Mall to witness Trump deliver a speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and an airshow featuring military planes. The Pentagon spent $1.2 million on the event, and the Department of the Interior spent $2.45 million.
In their letter, the lawmakers argued that spending such funds in 2020 on a “vanity project” for Trump is financially wasteful. They also noted that the event would “exceed public gathering best practices and significantly increase the threat of community spread of COVID-19.”
Washington will enter its first phase of reopening Friday, but severe restrictions on everyday activities will remain in place. Salons will operate by appointment only, and restaurant patrons will only be permitted to eat outdoors. Groups of more than 10 people will be prohibited from assembling, and churches, mosques, and synagogues will be limited to 10 worshipers. In Stage 3 of the “ReOpen D.C.” plan, crowds are limited to 250.
In an April 22 briefing, Trump announced his intention for his “Salute to America” to continue.
“Last year was a tremendous success, and I would imagine we’ll do it, hopefully I can use the term ‘forever,” he said, acknowledging that attendance would likely be significantly lower.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told WAMU that her staff is exploring options for this year’s Independence Day celebrations but said the D.C. police chief is concerned about crowd control, a sentiment reflected by the legislators, who claimed that “enforcing safe social distancing and basic event protocol would put park, event security, and law enforcement officers at risk of contracting the virus.”
