How Do You Feel About Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ Celebration?

What’s the story?

• President Donald Trump will be joined by M1 Abrams tanks, Air Force One, the Blue Angels, and military chiefs for his July 4th “Salute to America” celebration.
• The National Park Service has directed nearly $2.5 million in funding to the Washington, D.C. event. The full cost is not yet known, but it’s been reported that the air show alone could cost as much as $2 million dollars.
• The president has faced criticism over politicizing the event, including news that Republican National Committee members and top donors were given VIP tickets to the celebration.
• For these reasons, and others, there are also a number of protests planned during the “Salute to America.” Code Pink had planned to fly the “Trump Baby” blimp, but the NPS said they could not fill the balloon with helium. The dirigible will instead be stationed near the Washington Monument.

• Anti-Trump veterans are handing out T-shirts for the USS John McCain. Trump has belittled the late Arizona senator on a number of occasions, both before and after his death.

What are people saying?

Critics

• The head of the National Parks Conservation Association, Theresa Pierno, blasted the redirection of NPS funds, labeling it a "breach of trust with the public.”

“The public pays parks fees to fix national parks and for educational programs, not the president’s parade."

• “Put troops out there so we can thank them—leave tanks for Red Square,” said Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, a retired four-star Marine general and former head of United States Central Command.
• Likewise, Muriel Bowser, Washington’s mayor, said parading tanks and heavy artillery was “not the American way” of honoring the military.

Supporters

• Trump said the cost – whatever it may wind up being – is worth it.

“The cost of our great Salute to America tomorrow will be very little compared to what it is worth,” Trump tweeted. “We own the planes, we have the pilots, the airport is right next door (Andrews), all we need is the fuel. We own the tanks and all. Fireworks are donated by two of the greats. Nice!”

• “The president is not going to get political,” White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley told Fox Business Network on Tuesday.

“He’s going to celebrate the greatest country, the greatest idea in the history of the world, and that is the United States of America.”

What do you think?

Do you support Trump’s “Salute to America” event? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman