Trump announces July 4 rally in Washington

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced plans on Monday to hold a major rally in Washington on July 4 for the United States’ 250th anniversary, in addition to a concert event 10 days earlier.

The president had previously said the June 24 event would be the “Greatest Rally, EVER!… A Rally to end all Rallies!” and include performances by military bands and some of his favourite singers.

It was put together after several musical artists pulled out of a 250th anniversary concert series in the US capital, with some citing the politicized nature of the event.

But on Monday, Trump said the new July 4 event would be “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.”

The “TRIBUTE TO AMERICA” event would be held at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial — whose reflecting pool the billionaire president has personally been involved in renovating.

“Starting at 7pm, this HUGE Celebration will honor our Country’s People, Spirit, Strength, Resolve, and Triumphs,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“There will be incredible Flyovers and Airshows featuring our Top Military Pilots and Equipment, and I will deliver keynote remarks that you will not want to miss,” he said.

The event will be capped off by a traditional fireworks display, with Trump promising it will be “the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY.”

In a separate post, he hyped up the June 24 event as the “‘kick off’ of our summer long Celebration,” but made no mention of a speech and did not refer to it as a rally.

He said military bands would be performing “ONLY THE HITS THAT YOU KNOW AND LOVE!” while tenor Christopher Macchio and Lee Greenwood — the singer of “God Bless the USA,” a staple of Trump’s political rallies — would also be singing.

“You will also bear witness to impressive Military flyovers featuring precision Fighter Jets and Stealth Bombers, which will be flown by our US Military Pilots, who have proven to be the most Elite Pilots anywhere in the World,” Trump said.

The Republican billionaire has tried to stamp his mark on America’s 250th birthday, including by staging a mixed martial arts fight in a specially constructed arena on the White House lawn on June 14 — his 80th birthday.