American Independence Day: A Donald Trump of Unity, But Not Too Much

During Independence Day celebrations, the American president celebrated the history of his people for whom “nothing is impossible”, in a speech paying homage to the army and calling for rally.

Upon their arrival, Donald and Melania were greeted with cries of “USA, USA!” Just this once, on July 4, Donald Trump called for rally in the speech he gave in Washington on the occasion of America’s national holiday celebrations. July 4th, or Independence Day, marks the day, in 1776, where 13 British colonies founded the United States of America.

Like each year, thousands of people came together on the immense lawns of the National Mall. They had waited for long hours despite the stifling heat and the summer storms. This time, many wore caps, t-shirts and held signs in the name of Trump.

The crowd chanted “USA, USA” as the Republican billionaire arrived, joined by his wife, Melania, at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial steps. It is from this monument in praise of the 16th American president that in 1963, Martin Luther King had delivered his historic “I have a dream” speech, in favor of equality for Black people. The impressive Air Force One flew over the historic heart of Washington to announce the opening of the ceremony which lasted less than one hour.

“Today, we come together as one nation with this very special salute to America”, declared Trump before listing the medical, spatial, technological and industrial discoveries and advances made by Americans. “We are going to be back on the moon very soon. And someday soon, we will plant the American flag on Mars”, he promised. “Our nation is stronger today than it ever was before”, launched the American president beneath the spectators’ applauds before proclaiming “for Americans, nothing is impossible”, he launched again in the presence of his vice-president, Mike Pence, members of his administration, of Congress and representatives from all branches of the army.

As though demonstrating a renewed strength, his speech was intersected with military music and planes flying over, a B-2 stealth fighter jet among them. It was after being impressed by the 2017 Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysées in Paris that the Republican billionaire wanted to add a military dimension to these celebrations. The aerobatics flotilla The Blue Angels closed the spectacle with unprecedented scale.

Trump also paid homage to the military personnel, police, rescue workers and volunteers of 9/11. He paid tribute to several civil rights personalities as well including the Suffragette movement and many great African American figures including Martin Luther King. The American president did however sprinkle his speech more controversial references including homage to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, regularly stigmatized for its treatment of illegal immigrants coming from Latin America. He also cited “Betsy Ross”, nickname of the old version of the American flag, denounced by some due to its connotations of the slavery era.

But in shaking up the order of the festivities, the president came under fire from the Democrats who feared “a partisan campaign rally”. Notably, White House candidate Joe Biden, who is at the top of the Democrat polls, condemned the event as being “designed more to stroke his [Trump’s] ego than celebrate American ideals.”