page_title: 2019 Salute to America
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: 2019 Salute to America / Background
caption_attribution_description: French National Day Parade &#x7c; July 14, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)
context_page_description: The 2019 Salute to America was an event arranged by the Trump administration held on Independence Day, July 4, 2019, in Washington, D.C. It took place at the National Mall and included presentations of U.S. military vehicles, an address by President Donald Trump from the Lincoln Memorial, flyovers by military aircraft, and a fireworks display. The event occurred alongside pre-existing annual Independence Day events such as the National Independence Day Parade and the PBS-televised A Capitol Fourth concert. It was the first time a U.S. president had addressed a crowd at the National Mall on Independence Day in 68 years.
  There was controversy leading up to the event. Trump's critics expressed concern that the celebration would be a political event reminiscent of his campaign rallies, especially in the early stages of his 2020 re-election campaign. Concerns were also raised over the involvement of the military, the distribution of VIP tickets to donors and members of the Republican Party, as well as the cost of the event.
context_section_description: During a presidential visit to France in July 2017, President Donald Trump attended the Bastille Day military parade in Paris alongside French president Emmanuel Macron. Following the parade, Trump expressed admiration for the event and said he wanted the United States to "top it" with a similar, military-focused event. Trump proposed a military parade be held in Washington on Veterans Day in 2018, in honor of the centenary of World War I's conclusion. However, the proposal was rejected due to cost concerns.
  In February 2019, Trump announced on Twitter plans for a "Salute to America" celebration on Independence Day, promising entertainment, a "major" fireworks display and "an address by your favorite President, me!" It was later revealed that this speech would be given from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Trump would become the first president to speak there since Harry Truman marked the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in an address from the National Mall on Independence Day, 1951.
  The National Park Service stated that Trump's event was not expected to conflict with other traditional Independence Day events held at the Capitol like the National Independence Day Parade, the televised A Capitol Fourth concert, and its associated fireworks display— although, due to Salute to America, fireworks were launched from West Potomac Park, rather than the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The producers of A Capitol Fourth distanced themselves from the president's planned festivities, emphasizing they were an independent and separate event. Due to Trump's presence, the Federal Aviation Administration suspended flights at Reagan Airport during the event.
caption: Trump attending the 2017 Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France
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