President Donald Trump is promoting a large July 4 celebration and fireworks in the nation’s capital this weekend, and administration officials expect large crowds in and around the National Mall, despite objections from the Mayor, the event can spread the coronavirus.
The dispute comes amid spikes in coronavirus cases across the country, with more than 50,000 COVID-19 cases reported in just one day this week.
“We have communicated to you that we do not believe this is in accordance with the best guidance of the CDC and the Department of Health. But this event will take place entirely on federal property, “DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference.
The city is currently in phase two of its reopening plan, which encourages its residents to continue participating in social alienation, continue to wear a mask, and avoid congregating in confined spaces with more than 50 people.
But Bowser said that since he has no jurisdiction over federal land, he could only urge DC residents to be cautious this weekend, advising people to stay home if they don’t think they can physically distance themselves from the the rest.
“Ask yourself, do you need to be there?” She said. “Ask yourself, can you anticipate or know who will be around you? If you go downtown, do you know if you can distance yourself socially?
According to Interior Department officials, 300,000 facial coatings will be available to be delivered to those who come to the National Mall to see the fireworks and overpasses.
But White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday that wearing a mask will not be mandatory.
“The president has said that we must follow our local authorities in masks, so that is the decision,” said McEnany. “He encourages people to follow those authorities. The CDC guidelines, I would also like to point out, say recommended but not mandatory, and we are looking forward to the 4th of July celebration. ”
This event is the latest conflict between President Trump and the city’s Democratic Mayor in the midst of the pandemic and continued protests for racial justice.
In a climactic moment of tension between the two leaders in early June, and when protests erupted across the country after George Floyd’s death, Bowser allowed a “Black Lives Matter” mural to be painted in bright yellow letters on 16th street, near the White house. That street, unlike the National Mall, is under its jurisdiction.
Even before crowds gather on the National Mall to see the overpasses and fireworks, protest groups say they will hold a march to end racial inequality in the United States.
The organizer says a George Floyd Memorial March in Washington is expected to begin at 9:30 am at the Lincoln Memorial and end in Ellipse, south of the White House, where Trump will host his second annual “Salute to America” event. ”
That will be the second celebration the president will attend in two days. On Friday, he and the First Lady travel to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for a flyover and fireworks display, where Republican Governor Kristi Noem has said that social distancing will not apply, face coatings will remain optional. and crowds of more than 7,000 are expected to gather, according to state officials.
“We are going to have a tremendous July 3, and then we will come back here, celebrating July 4 in Washington, DC,” Trump said Thursday.
While the July 4 fireworks take place over Bowser’s objections, the White House has cut back on the “Salute to America” portion of the celebration.
Trump had said in the spring that he wanted a repeat of last year’s event he strongly promoted, complete with multiple military vehicles stationed at the Lincoln Memorial.
That event, according to the Government Accountability Office, cost taxpayers $ 13 million, double that of previous years.
The 2019 “Salute to America” also caused tension between the city government and the White House because the event required additional security and road closures beyond the already high security required for holiday events.
Despite the downsizing, this year’s “Salute to America,” which moved to the South Lawn White House, will continue to have a military touch.
The US Air Force Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Angels will fly over the National Mall, and more than 10,000 fireworks are expected to go off during a 35-minute show, one of the largest in recent history, according to the Department of The Interior.
In addition to the event in Washington, the Pentagon said it will conduct military overflights over Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore on Saturday.
The planes will begin overpasses at approximately 4 pm over Boston and then advance down the coast before joining other planes flying over the capital. Some 1,700 service members will be involved in supporting these events, according to the Defense Department.
Thanking corporate donors in a tweet Wednesday night, the president said Saturday’s event “will certainly be a special night.”
Saturday’s overpasses over the National Mall in Washington are expected to begin around 6:45 p.m. and the fireworks display will begin at 9:07 p.m.
ABC News’ Stephanie Ebbs, Luis Martínez, Benjamin Gittleson, Jordyn Phelps contributed to this report.
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