U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the July 4th celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary will be held as a Trump rally around the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in Washington.
Trump described the celebrations as "the most magnificent Trump rally" and revealed that more than 300 military bands, orchestras, and ceremonial units will participate in the event.
The President stated that patriotic tunes and American classics will be played, along with selections he personally chose. He also mentioned that the program will not include the kind of long and boring segments he dislikes.
Trump also announced that he will deliver the main speech during the celebrations, turning the July 4th program into more of a political show of strength than a traditional Independence Day commemoration.
The decision came after recent disruptions in the entertainment lineup planned for the "Great American State Fair" in Washington. Some announced artists and musicians withdrew from the event, citing the celebrations’ increasing alignment with Trump’s style and a heavy political tone.
Among those who left the program were Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC, The Commodores, and Morris Day.