Our live coverage of President Trump’s “Salute to America” celebration has ended. Scroll through the posts below to see how it unfolded or follow CNN Politics.
President Trump stuck to the script at his “Salute to America” event, striking a patriotic tone in a largely apolitical speech running approximately 45 minutes — including the flyovers — behind bulletproof glass on the National Mall.
The President took an opportunity to boast, calling the US “the most exceptional nation in the history of the world.”
He recognized each branch of the military at the beginning of his speech: “The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, and, very soon, the Space Force.” (On a related note, Trump also vowed to soon “plant the American flag on Mars.”)
His remarks were filled with historical references — from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, and later, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, the Wright Brothers, and Clara Barton.
In his conclusion, he struck a tone of unity, saying, “We will never forget that we are Americans and the future belongs to us. The future belongs to the brave, the strong, the proud and the free. We are one people chasing one dream and one magnificent destiny.”
Then, the military band played a formal rendition Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to Be an American” – one of the President’s favorites — while one more Navy Blue Angel plane flew overhead. Trump shook hands with some military officials and waved before he left the stage.
The White House just sent out a list of attendees for tonight’s “Salute to America” celebration, which included both Trump administration officials and military leaders.
Here’s are the White House officials who attended:
And here are the US military leaders:
The $2.5 million President Trump is taking from the National Park Service to fund part of his Fourth of July event is used to pay for things that keep the parks running, a former parks superintendent said.
“Over 200 parks have budgets of $2.5 million or less,” Phil Francis, the chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, told CNN.
He added although that amount of money may not sound like a lot in Washington, every dollar counts when it comes to operating the parks.
This money comes from the fees people pay when they visit the parks. He said the money would usually be used to make improvements or repairs not “be diverted for what appears to be a political event.”
“I think it’s a really big disconnect,” Francis said.
At his “Salute to America” celebration, President Trump is spending some time touting each branch of the military, explaining the branches’ histories and praising their accomplishments.
He started with the US Coast Guard, and when he was done, the branch did a flyover over the nation’s capital.
Trump then moved on to the Air Force.
“And it is our incredible airman today who wield the most powerful weapon systems on the planet Earth. For over 65 years no enemy air force has managed to kill a single American soldier because the skies belong to the United States of America,” Trump said.
Speaking about the US Marines, Trump said this:
The President also praised the Army and the Navy, with each branch giving a flyover afterward.
President Trump is delivering his speech about America’s history and innovation to crowds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial and on the National Mall.
Here’s what it looks like there:
The iconic 747, known as Air Force One when the President is on board, just flew over the Lincoln Memorial and down the National Mall all the way to the US Capitol, before veering off.
The flyover officially kicked off President Trump’s “Salute to America” celebration for the Fourth of July.
President Trump just took the stage at his “Salute to America” celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.
The President spoke behind a clear barrier to the crowds gathered at the National Mall.
Attendees who signed up for text alerts through the National Park Service just received a reminder that flyovers are expected to start soon.
The text alerts have provided updates several times today, urging attendees to stay alert during storms, to expect crowds and large lines, and to “pack a poncho!”
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump just left the White House for his “Salute to America” celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump is scheduled to give his remarks at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Nearly 100 flights are scheduled to arrive or depart from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport today during the time the airport’s runways are scheduled to be closed due to Independence Day festivities in the nation’s capital, a CNN review of flight records found.
The airport’s website lists 63 arrivals and 33 departures during the two windows when the FAA has ordered airport operations suspended due to a military plane flyover and extended fireworks show.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitical Washington Airports Authority declined to provide specifics on how many flights would be impacted, but said the airport does “anticipate some fights at Reagan National to be affected during the late afternoon and evening on the fourth.”
Here’s a breakdown of the scheduled flights per airline:
One thing to note: It is unclear how the flight delays will impact travelers. A Southwest spokesperson said the airline “will do our best to minimize any delays to customers’ travel schedules” and a United spokesperson said the airline would issue a travel waiver to make re-booking easier for its passengers.
There will be approximately 750 to 800 military personnel taking part in the “Salute to America” celebration in Washington on the Fourth of July, a defense official told CNN.
That number does not include the additional 900 hundred members of the DC National Guard that CNN previously reported have been activated to provide traffic control and security on the streets and in the Metro subway system in Washington.
About President Trump’s speech: Trump will speak around 6:30 p.m. ET, and there will be a 21-gun salute and an Air Force One fly over, the official said. Trump will then say an introduction and speak individually about each service. He will first talk about the US Coast Guard with his remarks being followed by a Coast Guard flyover. This format will be repeated for the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Army. The President will then make closing remarks and the Navy’s elite airshow squadron the Blue Angels will do a demonstration, which will be followed by fireworks.
US Capitol Police evacuated the west front of the US Capitol due to reported lightning strikes near the National Mall, a spokesperson told CNN.
The Capitol will host tonight’s second, and more traditional Fourth of July celebration. That event is dubbed “A Capitol Fourth.”
Weather is also causing problems at Reagan Washington National Airport.
Departing aircraft at Reagan, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, and Philadelphia are holding due to weather, according to the FAA’s website. Aircraft heading to these airports are also being held though some already in the air may be allowed to land.
CNN’s Greg Wallace contributed to this report.
While people gather to celebrate the Fourth of July and watch fireworks a few blocks away, there was a much different scene outside the White House today — a burning American flag and violence between clashing protesters.
Led by activist Joey Johnson, a group of anti-Trump protesters set an American flag on fire outside the White House. It was quickly put out by US Secret Service.
There were also multiple scuffles with pro-Trump protesters, turning violent at times, and confrontations laced with profanity. There were several members of the far-right group, the “Proud Boys.”
Multiple arrests were made and two flags were burned, according to CNN’s Scott Pisczek. (It appears we only have one flag burning on camera.)
The White House just released excerpts from President Trump’s remarks at the “Salute to America” celebration.
Here’s what he’s expected to say:
A protest group set an American flag on fire at Lafayette Park across from the White House.
Secret Service officers quickly extinguished the flames and detained several people.
A press release from a protest group announced plans to set a US flag alight, and noted that protester, Gregory “Joey” Johnson and members of the Revolution Club and the Revolution Tour were demonstrating against President Trump and his “Salute to America” event.
It is not known if Johnson was one of those being held by police.
Trump was scheduled to speak at the Fourth of July event at 6:30 p.m. ET today, but the event has been delayed (Note: We’re not sure how long the delay will last.)
President Trump still plans to deliver remarks at his “Salute to America” event tonight, despite an announcement there would be a delay in the program.
Trump was originally scheduled to deliver an address at 6:30 p.m. ET.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said there has not been a bad weather call and added that the President would travel the short distance to the Lincoln Memorial.
What we know so far: We don’t have details about the length of the delay, but there is severe weather in the Washington area and low cloud cover.
Nearly $2.5 million will be redirected from the National Park Service to help cover the costs of President Trump’s July 4 event in Washington, DC.
This money is usually spent on things that would keep the parks up and running and are “primarily intended to improve parks across the country,” The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The Post said the use of the funds was confirmed by two unnamed individuals familiar with the agreement.
The paper, which said administration officials “have consistently refused to say how much” the event will cost, noted that former National Park Service deputy director Denis P. Galvin said that typically, the July 4 celebration on the mall comes at a cost of about $2 million for the agency. According to the Post, the $2.5 million redirected by the park service “represent just a fraction of the extra costs the government faces” for the event.
Citing budget documents, the paper also said the nearly $2.5 million from the agency “amounts to nearly 5 percent of the funds that less-profitable parks used last year for upgrades.”
Could cross a campaign line: According to the Post, Brendan Fischer, the federal reform director for the Campaign Legal Center, said the President’s speech could cause issues related to the use of the NPS funds as “federal appropriations law prohibits using public money for political purposes.”
If Trump “refers to some of the 2020 presidential hopefuls, or polling related to the race, Trump’s reelection campaign may be required to reimburse the U.S. Treasury,” the paper said.
“‘The content of the event, and the nature of the event, is probably the determining factor,’ as opposed to donors getting to see Trump up close,” Fischer told the Post, referring to the the fact that the President’s political allies received some of the VIP tickets to the celebration.
President Trump’s political allies received some of the VIP tickets to today’s Fourth of July spectacle on the National Mall, according to people familiar with the event.
While the public will be able to view the event from afar, the areas closest to Lincoln Memorial, where Trump will speak, are reserved for ticket holders.
The White House has declined to say how the tickets will be allocated, or even how many will be given out. An official said only that “VIPs, friends and family, and members of the military” are getting access to the cordoned-off area.
But at least some of those with the special access appear to be Trump’s political boosters.
The “Salute to America” will occur on the National Mall rather than the White House, which is where presidents have celebrated the Fourth of July in the past.
Tickets required: The Secret Service said in a statement last week it was responsible for securing the area closest to the Lincoln Memorial during the event.
“Tickets are required for this event and individuals will be required to undergo an additional level of security screening to include magnetometers,” the agency said.
The DC National Guard has activated 900 members to provide traffic control and security on the streets and in the Metro subway system in Washington, DC, according to a military official.
However, the number is nearly triple the typical 300-person activation for the Fourth of July because of the need to have additional personnel for President Trump’s event.
More people are expected to be on the streets as a result of the Fourth of July celebration. They’ll be traveling through the subway system, which is a larger footprint for security teams to cover, the official said.
