Donald Trump was reportedly furious over the modest crowd at his Washington, D.C., rally marking the start of July Fourth celebrations and directed White House staff to remove images showing the low turnout. The president delivered a 30-minute address last week at the Great American State Fair, using the speech to promote his administration’s record ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Photos from the event appeared to show large empty areas, while video footage showed some attendees leaving before Trump had finished speaking. According to CNN, Trump was “livid” after seeing aerial images of the crowd and had not realized the extent of the attendance problem while he was on stage. The report said the images upset him so much that he ordered White House accounts to delete related posts, then pushed back on social media by insisting the crowds were “packed to the brim.” Behind the scenes, White House officials have also reportedly traded blame over Trump’s planned Saturday speech, which is scheduled as temperatures are forecast to climb above 100 degrees. “I do not understand why we are doing this so late,” one source told CNN. “I’m really not sure who thought this was a good idea.”
Trump vows lengthy speech in heat
The Daily Mail said it has contacted the White House for comment. Despite the intense heat gripping the East Coast, attendees are not permitted to bring coolers onto the National Mall for Trump’s rally. The fireworks display tied to the president’s Independence Day celebration is also not expected to begin until close to midnight on July 4. On Wednesday, Trump reiterated that he still plans to deliver what he described as a “really long speech” in the sweltering conditions.
Heat, security and high prices frustrate crowd
“On July 4, it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to go, and I’m going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything,” Trump said. Tight security rules imposed by the Secret Service and D.C. police have also made the event less accessible for some visitors, with attendees barred from bringing food or water bottles into the area. When the Daily Mail visited the fair over the weekend, some guests were upset by the cost of concessions, including hot dogs and soft drinks.
High-profile cancellations and costly concessions
Children were seen crying as families dealt with limited shade and few dedicated places to rest. Food tents across the National Mall offered items such as hot dogs, cheeseburgers and pizza, but a bottle of water cost $5. The celebration has also faced a series of notable cancellations, with soul group the Commodores and funk performer Morris Day both withdrawing from the 250th-anniversary events in the weeks before the festivities. Instead of rushing to secure replacement performers, Trump chose to take center stage himself, headlining last week’s kickoff event at the Great American State Fair.
