The Trump Show made quite a splash on the 4th of July as the United States of America celebrated its 243rd birthday of independence from England. Braking from tradition the nontraditional and controversial President Donald Trump took over this year’s festivity in Washington amid much criticism from the Democrats, the candidates running for president and even the City Council of the District of Columbia took stands against this event saying it would be overtly political.

“We have said it before, and we’ll say it again: Tanks, but no tanks,” said the DC City Council in a statement. They went on to complain that the president’s plan to bring in large 60-ton M1 Abrams military tanks would give the wrong impression and damage city streets. But the tanks were there in force placed around the Lincoln Memorial in stationary positions resulting in no damages. Sounds like much ado about nothing.

Nobody likes a spectacle more than President Trump. His supporters love him for that and his critics hate him for it because they cannot duplicate such loyal enthusiasm. More than likely this year’s July 4th Washington, DC celebration of freedom was only a dress rehearsal for next year’s July 4th blow out – exactly four months before the Nov. 3, 2020 national election.

During President Trump’s address to the nation — he gave on the steps of the iconic Lincoln Memorial — the president singled out each branch of the military – Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Marines and the Air Force – and gave a brief history of each one, giving praise for the men and women in all USA military uniforms.

President Trump’s speech was quite generic urging patriotic support of the military as its theme. He also urged young men and women to enlist for military service. There was no mention of partisan politics, Campaign 2020 and all those hateful Democrats that just won’t cozy up to President Trump for the good of the country. As the president spoke the U.S. Navy’s ‘Blue Angels’ flew over as did a rarely seen wing-shaped Stealth B2 Bomber as well as other jet aircraft and helicopters. It was all very impressive and respectful.

Everyone else got all political over this year’s July 4th celebration, but President Trump did not. He made America proud standing there in the same spot that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.

“Today, we come together as one nation with this very special Salute to America,” said the president. “We celebrate our history, our people, and the heroes who proudly defend our flag – the brave men and women of the United States military.”

It didn’t take long for Trump haters to get on the band wagon demanding another congressional investigation into President Trump’s alleged misuse of public funds to finance the July 4th celebration on land controlled by the U.S. Park Service.

According to a story on FoxNews.com, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn) said it was “absolutely outrageous” that the Trump Administration used $2.5-million in park money to defray event costs.

“These fees are not a slush fund for this administration to use at will,” said McCollum. She promised a congressional hearing over this matter will be held soon. They just won’t stop these political shenanigans.

Back 243 years ago when the USA became official it was the signing of the original Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 that started this experiment for a new Constitutional Republic free of influence from the United Kingdom. The original signers of the Declaration of Independence are not remembered for the incredible bravery it took to do what they did to break away from the most powerful country on Earth at that time.

“It is important to note that every one of those signatures represents an individual putting his life, possessions and family at risk of losing everything – including their lives,” said Larry Grayshan of Florida. “We owe a debt to those signatures that can never be repaid!”

President Trump is well using the power of his incumbency to give credit exactly where credit is due.

About the Author Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.