The National Park Service denied a request from South Dakota to host another July Fourth fireworks display at Mount Rushmore following a controversial Independence Day in 2020 attended by then-President Donald Trump.
NPS Regional Director Herbert Frost penned a letter to the state’s tourism department that the park service is “unable to grant a request to have fireworks at the Memorial,” according to a readout obtained by Washington Examiner.
“Potential risks to the park itself and to the health and safety of employees and visitors associated with the fireworks demonstration continue to be a concern and are still being evaluated as a result of the 2020 event,” Frost wrote.
Last year, fireworks and Air Force jets provided a celebratory backdrop behind the iconic, stone-carved presidential figures in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
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At the time, the NPS said an environmental assessment found there would be no significant environmental impact caused by holding a fireworks display near the presidential peaks.
In NPS’s letter Friday, Frost cited limited attendance requirements at the 2020 celebration, at which Trump delivered a speech, affected “tens of thousands” who could not visit the memorial or had their visit cut short. He also noted a construction project slated for completion this summer as a reason for not hosting a celebration this year.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Trump were key proponents for hosting the 2020 celebration, as there had not been a display at the location since 2009 due to environmental and safety concerns.
Ian Fury, the communications director for Noem, responded to NPS’s letter Friday, saying, “Governor Noem will do everything in her ability to ensure that we can celebrate America’s birthday with fireworks at Mount Rushmore.”
He added: “President Biden wants this Independence Day to mark ‘our independence from this virus.’ The best place to do that would be Mount Rushmore.”
Frost also cited in his statement “the park’s many tribal partners expressly oppose fireworks at the Memorial.”
Some tribal leaders voiced dissatisfaction over the Independence Day event in the Black Hills last year, and the Oglala Sioux president has even called for the removal of Mount Rushmore.
Despite some calls from tribal leaders for the state to distance itself from the man-made tribute to the nation’s Founding Fathers, Noem has vehemently defended the landmark, releasing a statement last year defending Mount Rushmore when reports of monuments being vandalized flooded the media.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Fury and the state’s tourism department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
