Yesterday was the most important day in the United States of America’s diary.

It was also a chance for Donald Trump to show the likes of Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un that he also has tanks. In his salute to America, he also managed to fill the outdoor space at the Lincoln Memorial.

I would have been there, too, if just to witness the reality show.

I’m really enjoying this season – so many twists and turns!

According to Reuters:

With U.S. fighter jets flying overhead, President Donald Trump praised the military and reveled in a show of pomp and patriotism on Thursday in a celebration of Independence Day that critics accused him of turning into a political event.

David Smith at the Guardian disagrees, but supports the reality show:

Trump did not fulfill 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!”

We’ve posted Trump’s speech below, but nothing will beat Trump’s own highlights reel from his Twitter feed:

pic.twitter.com/ldrobJIbrN

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2019

The Daily Beast gave some more insight, as well as disappointing news regarding the tanks:

Over at the Trump International Hotel just down Pennsylvania Ave. from the White House, numerous Trump supporters and celebrants populated the lobby, ordering drinks and tiny burgers with small American flags poking out of them, stuffing more money into the Trump family coffers.

The lobby restaurant and bar area, for years a top destination and watering hole for Trumpworld luminaries and administration figures, was filled with enthusiastic Trump fans, including one man wearing an American flag outfit replete with a TRUMP cape. Hotel regulars mingled in the lobby on Thursday afternoon, with Eric Bolling, a close Trump friend and a BlazeTV host, setting up shop to broadcast his July 4 show next to the bar.

Indeed.

While Trump got his tanks trained in from Georgia, they will not be able to roll through the streets of D.C. due to concerns that the weight of the tanks would ravage city streets. And, according to Mother Jones, the Pentagon sent out written guidance to troops involved in Trump’s show to say things like, “I am proud of my job and my vehicle/tank. I am glad to share my experience with the American People,” if asked during the course of the event.

Tragic. I’m surprised Trump didn’t give an executive order to ensure the tanks could cruise through Washington.

Here’s the speech he gave – be sure to catch the stealth bomber at the very end:

We end, as one should, with fireworks.

STUNNING: Fireworks filled the sky above the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Independence Day. https://t.co/76QfY3Q4oI pic.twitter.com/8Hq5TSGD0e

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 5, 2019

At least those went better than the Fourth of July fails we featured earlier in the week.

[sources:reuters&independent&guardian&ft&dailybeast]