The Fourth of July is finally here — but President Trump’s childish visions of the grandest MAGA rally of all have not gone according to plan. Intent on hijacking the celebration of our nation’s birth into a carnival of Trumpian militarism and personality worship, the President has been reportedly deeply concerned with the preparations for today’s festivities.
The weather, however, appears to have listened to the petitions of millions of Americans and has decided to quite dramatically and literally rain on the President’s parade.
https://twitter.com/GissiSim/status/1146875770142371840
https://twitter.com/TweetingYarnie/status/1146873279870906368
Instead of his disturbingly authoritarian dream of tanks driving through the streets of Washington to crowds of cheering and adoring fans, the President got a display of parked vehicles far from the public.
There's a huge perimeter around the Lincoln Memorial, where Trump will actually be speaking, that's closed to all but VIPs and press. See a tiny hump of camo in the distance? That's a tank. Might be wrong, but I think this is as close as most of the general public will get. pic.twitter.com/OqjKUEMhkr
— Osita Nwanevu (@OsitaNwanevu) July 4, 2019
Thunder and lighting raged the entire afternoon, putting both the traditional firework display and Trump’s desired Air Force flyover at risk — not to mention the lives of the speech attendees, thanks to an exceptionally poorly considered
The Trump 4th of July has been delayed by the rain. Meanwhile, Reagan Airport suggests the flyovers can’t happen. pic.twitter.com/uRPeInZPGV
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) July 4, 2019
The reflecting pool is an awfully dumb place to be hanging out in a lightning storm but at least the Trump Administration was smart enough to put chain link fence all around it for people to grab ahold of… (via @schatz_rashad) #FourthofJuly #TrumpParade pic.twitter.com/CwxWeU8cv5
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) July 4, 2019
But it’s not all bad news for everyone. According to CNN’s Jim Acosta, White House officials are secretly thanking their lucky stars, because they’ve been terribly worried that the hastily arranged event would fail to draw enough people, provoking the president’s wrath and insecurities like the poor turnout at his inauguration famously did.
A source close to the WH: officials in the west wing were very worried there would not be enough people down on the mall for tonight. “Concern ran deep,” the source said.
Source said they were praying for rain so they could have an excuse for any turnout issues. @Acosta— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) July 4, 2019
Trump is insistent on giving his speech, so the main event is still going to happen. But it’s going to be a huge blow to his ego to see the muted and thin crowds, and the poetic justice of having his moment ruined so spectacularly by an increasingly volatile climate is too sweet for words to say.
Trump still plans to deliver remarks at his Salute to America event, despite an announcement there would be a delay in the program. Press Secretary says there has not been a bad weather call and that the president would travel the short distance to the Lincoln Memorial
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) July 4, 2019