Donald Trump's July 4th jamboree: symbolic, jingoistic and untraditional

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/05/donald-trumps-july-4th-jamboree-symbolic-jingoistic-and-untraditional

Donald Trump's July 4th jamboree: symbolic, jingoistic and untraditional

David Smith in Washington and agencies

Fri 5 Jul 2019 02.15 BST Last modified on Fri 5 Jul 2019 02.42 BST

All men are created equal. But one is created more equal than others. And his name is Donald Trump.

The US president’s unique interpretation of the declaration of independence was on full display on Thursday when he staged a militaristic, jingoistic and untraditional jamboree at the Lincoln memorial in Washington to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Trump did not fulfil his critics’ worst fears of a politically partisan, campaign-style rally with his “Salute to America” event. Indeed, in a rare plea for unity as he spoke beneath the statue of Abraham Lincoln, he told the crowd: “We are one people chasing one dream and one magnificent destiny. We all share the same heroes, the same home, the same heart, and we are all made by the same almighty God.”

The president did, however, provide the bombastic show of military might that had been widely predicted. Whereas he once liked to build suspense as host of the reality TV show The Apprentice, Trump now has the world’s most fearsome arsenal at his disposal – and he showed it off.

He relished introducing F-22 Raptors and a B-2 stealth bomber that roared loudly over the Washington monument, the reflecting pool and the Lincoln memorial. The rain-soaked crowd whooped, clapped, waved hats in the air and chanted: “USA! USA!”

The showman president, speaking behind rain-streaked bulletproof glass screens, grinned widely and declared: “Great country!”

There were several more flypasts in the cloudy sky by the plane known as Air Force One when the president is aboard, as well as army, navy, coast guard and Marine Corps aircraft and, climactically, six Blue Angel F-18s. The controversial event also included two Abrams tanks and two Bradley fighting vehicles.

In a speech that lasted 47 minutes, Trump laboured over a heroic version of American military history, telling stories not only of the revolutionary war that won independence from Britain but the civil war (“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”) and the second world war. He summoned military leaders to the podium, paid tribute to gold star families and at one point referenced his proposed space force.
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[Frustratedlady]

1. I thought it was nice that he invited/encouraged the young men to join the service.

He must not have had anyone encourage him to join when he was young...

Oh, yeah! I guess Uncle Sam tried. Darned bone spurs!

[YOHABLO]

2. Anything said about bone spurs? I didn't watch. Nor would I have watched. Couldn't watch.

[ROB-ROX]

3. I Saw An Article That IDIOT boy Would Pay $100 Million

To Cover The Cost Of This CRAP?? I think this is just another LIE. He would never pay this money because he is emotionally, physically, and financially BANKRUPT. This information just dresses up his public image to the zombies who voted for IT. I wonder if the article posted has been LOST today???