Melania and Donald Trump’s ‘Salute To America’ On July 4 Will Be Different Than 2019’s

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump recently announced that they will be hosting the second “Salute to America” along with the Department of Interior on the South Lawn of the White House and Ellipse on Saturday, July 4.

According to the White House Press Release, the even will start with music and military demonstrations. Additionally, there will be flyovers to honor our Nation’s service members and veterans.

POTUS is expected to deliver a speech celebrating American Independence while saluting the heritage. The event is expected to conclude in the evening with a “spectacular fireworks display over the National Mall.”

Traditionally, Washington has held an Independence Day celebration by fireworks beginning at dusk close to the Washington Monument, a concert with music by the National Symphony Orchestra hosted in a Capitol lawn and a parade along Constitution Avenue.

However, Trump changed the lineup in 2019 by including his speech and a display of tanks and warplanes to entertain the crowd gathered at the event. He also moved the fireworks closer to the Lincoln Memorial.

Several Democratic lawmakers in Washington have raised concerning that holding a pubic gathering in the middle of coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. may backfire.

“Given the current COVID-19 crisis, we believe such an event would needlessly risk the health and safety of thousands of Americans. Further, this event would come at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars while we are facing an unprecedented economic downturn due to the pandemic," the lawmakers stressed in a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., one of the lawmakers who signed the letter, said that the president should be capable of celebrating American Independence Day responsibly. But after Friday’s announcement, he thinks that instead Trump “is using the military to stage yet another costly political photo op.”

White House spokesman Judd Deere said that the celebrations will have a different look that 2019 to secure the health of the attendees and keep them safe. However, details of the preparation to ensure that have not been revealed.