President Donald Trump is turning the annual Fourth of July Celebration in Washington D.C. into a political affair. Not only will the president have tanks and other American military equipment on display, like some Soviet extravaganza, but he will have Air Force One conduct a fly over and will “unveil” his own new helicopter, Marine-1, as a presentation not of our country’s greatness but of his.

Invited to the event of course are all Americans, but VIP tickets have been awarded, exclusively to Trump’s loyal supporters. While tickets for example were sent to the Republican National Committee, no seats have been reserved for Democrats in this now overtly Republican .. affair.

To question the overtly political plans for Mr. Trump’s Fourth of July celebration of self is to question America itself. In the words of one of Mr. Trump’s propaganda ministers, Kellyanne Conway, when questioned by a reporter as to why the RNC was provided tickets to the event but not members of the country’s other party, Ms. Conway responded: “Do you know that the Fourth of July is a celebration of American independence? Are you aware of that? ... Because it doesn’t sound like you’re even talking about the patriotism that undergirds it.” To question President Trump is to be ignorant of America. To question President Trump’s idea of America, his plans for America, his actions on behalf of America, is to be unpatriotic.

Mr. Trump, questioned in the Oval Office about whether he thinks he can give a speech that will reach all Americans, responded. “I think I’ve reached most Americans,” going on to highlight some of his party’s political priorities while attacking the Democratic Party’s health care and tax plans. Unresponsive to the question asked, Mr. Trump’s answer nonetheless illuminated his viewpoint. Americans, real Americans I suppose, are those that agree with him, who support him, who stand by him, and now by hosting a Fourth of July celebration, that celebrate with him ...

https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/readers-respond/bs-ed-rr-trump-parade-letter-20190703-story.html

President Trump is throwing a big military-themed Fourth of July party at the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday, you're paying for it, and tickets to the VIP section are being handed out to the Republican National Committee, Trump's re-election campaign, and GOP donors, The Washington Post confirmed Tuesday. RNC and Trump campaign officials said that's no big deal because both parties engage in partisan ticketing for events at the White House.

"This is routine for events like the White House Christmas Open Houses, Garden Tours in spring and fall, etc.," an RNC official told the Post. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said "as a courtesy, the campaign was provided tickets for staff and their families and friends, much like for the Easter Egg Roll or White House garden tours" ...

"Limiting public access to a public monument on Independence Day in favor of wealthy donors just sends a signal that our political system favors the wealthy and well-connected," the Campaign Legal Center's Brendan Fischer tells the Post. "It certainly looks bad," but it's probably legal — unless Trump injects partisan politics into his speech, in which case his campaign could have to reimburse taxpayers.

Don't bet on it, said Talking Points Memo editor Josh Marshall. He pointed to a June 28 Secret Service press release stating that "the 'Salute to America' event will be hosted by the president" and is "separate from the rest of the July 4th activities within the District of Columbia." In other words, Marshall translates, the White House appears to be creating "sort of like a Trump bubble amidst the larger festivities where a totally different set of rules apply," and Trump has "carte blanche to run it as he would for a private party at the White House," politics, "de facto fundraising," and all. --- Peter Weber

https://theweek.com/speedreads/850821/vip-section-trumps-july-4th-event-filled-by-campaign-gop-groups-seems-kind-shady

BY JESSICA KWONG ON 7/3/19 AT 11:08 AM EDT

In the event that President Donald Trump turns his "Salute to America" Fourth of July parade with tanks into a campaign rally of sorts by providing premium seating tickets to his supporters, he could be putting military personnel in jeopardy of breaching ethics rules, according to an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

... ethics and legal experts raised concerns about the appearance and possibility that Trump supporters would get access to the best viewing areas for the free, public event ...

"A member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not: 1. Participate in partisan political fundraising activities, rallies, conventions, management of campaigns, or debates," reads the relevant section of the guide. "The prohibition is broad and does not depend on whether a member is in uniform or even whether an inference of official endorsement can be drawn" ...

Trump has a history of turning supposedly non-partisan occasions into opportunities to blast critics and tout his accomplishments. Last month, Trump drew criticism for giving an interview with Fox News in Normandy, France, in which he blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and special counsel Robert Mueller while the gravestones of American soldiers could be seen in the background ...

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-july-4-parade-military-ethics-parade-1447245

for Re-election.

Trump's just taking off the mask and being blatant about it. As usual, his response to breaking the norms (or laws) of politics/business/governance is "oh yeah? what are you gonna do about it?".

The answer has always been: nothing. He rapes women, mocks them for objecting, and there are no consequences. Why would he balk at crossing this line?

By James Hohmann
July 3 at 8:59 AM

... Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826 — 50 years to the day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

It remains one of the most remarkable coincidences in U.S. history ...

“The diverted park fees represent just a fraction of the extra costs the government faces as a result of the event,” Juliet Eilperin, Josh Dawsey and Dan Lamothe report. “Administration officials were finalizing aspects of Thursday’s schedule, according to a senior White House official, including a plan to have one of the planes in Air Force One’s fleet zoom overhead as Trump takes the stage ...

The Republican National Committee and Trump’s reelection campaign confirmed that they received special passes to the taxpayer-funded event that they’re giving out to contributors. All involved are unapologetic. They say it’s no different than the White House Garden Tours or the Easter Egg Roll ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2019/07/03/daily-202-holidays-used-to-bring-us-together-in-the-trump-era-they-tear-us-apart/5d1b9487a7a0a47d87c56faa/?utm_term=.2e1db7cc3216