What to expect from Trump's 'Salute to America' July 4th event

Ever since President Trump witnessed a patriotic Bastille Day parade in Paris in 2017, he has yearned for a similar celebration to call his own. Now, on this 2019 Independence Day, he's getting it. Well, sort of. On Thursday afternoon, the "Salute to America" event will take place. Here's what to expect:

Where is the "Salute to America" event? In front of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in D.C., where Trump has reportedly situated two M1A2 Abrams tanks and two Bradley armored vehicles, a stage, and several giant TV screens.

When does it start? Gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the official event starts around 6:30 p.m.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

What will the event include? Around 6:30 p.m., Trump is expected to give a non-political speech. What will he talk about if not the presidential "witch hunt," the border wall, and the failings of the Democrats? "Thematically, how wonderful this country is," counselor Kellyanne Conway told CBS News. The Washington Post reports White House officials are worried Trump won't stick to his prescribed talking points.

The rest of the show will reportedly feature performances by military bands. The Marine Corps Silent Drill Team will also be there. A military flyover is expected — CBS News reports "Trump is likely to show off the F-35 jets he recently displayed."

The "biggest ever" fireworks display over the National Mall will kick off around 9 p.m.

Who will be there? Troops, and lots of them. About 5,000 tickets went to military personnel. But there will also be Cabinet members, White House officials, and friends of the president in attendance. Reports suggest the White House has been scrambling to give away tickets for the VIP section because "people planned their July 4th activities weeks ago.”

How can you watch it? Most major networks will all run their regularly-scheduled programming during the event. But The Blaze reports that C-SPAN will cover it live, "and Fox News has blocked off two hours for special coverage."

Is it going to rain on Trump's parade? It's looking that way. One White House aid told Politico: "The weather might be bad. Heads are spinning."