US president promises the event, to be held in Washington, will be ‘the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all’
US President Donald Trump declared on Monday his intention to host a large-scale "rally" in Washington for the July 4 Independence Day, further imprinting his political identity on commemorations of America's 250th birthday.
This declaration follows a day after the Republican billionaire arranged a mixed martial arts bout on the White House lawn—coinciding with his 80th birthday—featuring military honor guards and Air Force flyovers.
Trump had earlier stated that a separate gathering on June 24 would be the "Greatest Rally, EVER! … A Rally to end all Rallies!" and would showcase military bands and several of his preferred vocalists.
That event was organized after multiple musical acts withdrew from a 250th anniversary concert series in the nation's capital, with some pointing to the politically charged nature of the occasion.
Yet, in a social media post on Monday, Trump stated that the upcoming July 4 event would be "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all."
The "Tribute to America" gathering is scheduled to take place at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial—whose reflecting pool has undergone recent renovations as part of a multimillion-dollar project ordered by the president.