The Donald Trump administration has reportedly created a tickets-only area with a better view for VIPs at the Lincoln Memorial for Independence Day, which received negative response from the public.
Military families and veterans will also be included in the VIP seating during the “Salute to America” ceremony and the fireworks show, while the number of tickets remain unclear.
“The National Mall on Independence Day has always been the ultimate equalizer. For decades, families and friends of all walks of life sat together on the grass and dirt under a florescent sky of pinwheels. Not anymore,” said WUSA9 author Eliana Block in her reporting of the news.
In the meantime, CNN reported that some of Trump’s political allies have already been sent VIP tickets for the July 4 celebrations on the National Mall.
“It’s standard practice for the RNC to receive a small number of tickets to events just as the DNC did under Democrat Presidents,” a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC) told CNN. “This is routine for events like the White House Christmas Open Houses, Garden Tours in spring and fall, etc.”
It was also claimed that the RNC has handed out the tickets to the Republican Party’s major donors.
Democratic National Committee (DNC), on the other hand, did not receive any tickets, according to multiple sources.
Normally, an allotment of tickets is given to both parties by the White House for such events. Then each party distributes the tickets to its members.
“For decades, it’s been a nonpartisan celebration of America. But this Thursday, President Donald Trump’s hijacked Independence Day event in Washington, D.C. will be distinctly Republican,” said the Daily Beast reporter Jamie Ross.
The VIP ticket practice for Republican Party supporters was met with criticism over Twitter, as well, with some calling the cordoned-off area a “VIP Republican cheering section” and accusing Trump of “politicizing the Fourth of July.”
Now we are politicizing the Fourth of July? We don’t need tanks in front of the Lincoln Memorial, or a VIP Republican cheering section. I think the Trump campaign should be made to pay for this vanity project. , not the National Park Service. https://t.co/V9SOj1brWM
— John T. Sullivan Jr. (@JTSJR22) July 3, 2019
Trump makes Fourth of July Celebration a Republican event. Trump and RNC should reimburse the taxpayers for the event. RNC Receives VIP Tickets to Trump's Fourth of July Celebration https://t.co/ze3zRQ0LJG via @nbcwashington
— Kim Sanders (@kesanders_com) July 3, 2019
This is wrong. 4th of July is not political. Should have extended an invitation to the Dems.
— Deirdre Robinson (@DeirdreDrdr) July 3, 2019
It’s a disgusting display and giant waste of money. Fourth of July is not a military holiday and it is offensive Trump is using it for political grandstanding. The VIP tickets to supporters are also against ethics laws, but Republicans don’t care about ethics or laws.
— alicefive (@alicefive11) July 3, 2019