Trump’s Ranting Could Push D.C. Fireworks Show to July 5

By

Margaret Hartmann,

senior editor for Intelligencer who has worked at New York since 2012

Donald Trump is facing quite the conundrum. Last month, he announced that rather than hosting a unifying celebration of America’s 250th birthday on July 4, the main event in Washington, D.C., will be the “most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.” In the same Truth Social post, Trump promised to conclude the Independence Day festivities with “the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY, right here in our Nation’s Capital.”

For most other presidents, this wouldn’t be a problem. They’d read some soaring prepared remarks celebrating the nation’s history, then sit down and watch a carefully scheduled fireworks show. But Trump’s love of record-breaking spectacles is coming into conflict with his passion for largely extemporaneous ranting.