This isn't how past presidents handled the Fourth of July.They mostly stayed out of it.Trump didn't.His administration's group, Freedom 250, pushed aside the nonpartisan body that Congress set up a decade ago to plan the anniversary.That group is now running the show, and it's turned much of the Mall into something called the Great American State Fair, complete with a Ferris wheel, defense contractor booths and conservative group displays.Several Democratic led states didn't send delegations.A number of performers backed out too, saying the whole thing felt too political for their taste. And a new Reuters and Ipsos poll found most Americans,including three quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans,think this year's celebrations have gotten too partisan.That's a striking number for a holiday that's supposed to belong to everybody.
Trump has also tried to spruce up the capital ahead of the big day, with mixed results honestly.Fountains and statues got fixed up nicely. But a fifteen million dollar renovation of the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool has turned into a mess, with algae and peeling paint now sitting behind security cameras and soldiers standing guard. Meanwhile the rest of the country is celebrating without the drama. Philadelphia, where the Declaration was actually signed 250 years ago this day, is handing out free cupcakes and hosting a six hour pop concert.New York's got tall ships coming in from around the world.
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