Trump’s July 4 event will force ‘unprecedented’ DC airport closures

Thanks to Trump’s decision to make the nation’s Independence Day celebration all about him, dozens of flights coming in and out of National Airport in Washington will be disrupted on July Fourth.

“Runways at the busy airport serving the nation’s capital will be closed Thursday during President Donald Trump’s Independence Day event,” CNN reported on Tuesday, relaying information from federal authorities.

Trump’s event will lead to air traffic being suspended from 6:15 to 7:45 PM ET to accommodate the military flyover that Trump has arranged. Additionally, runways will be closed for the fireworks display between 9 and 9:45 PM ET.

An official told CNN that such a closure is “unprecedented” for July 4 events.

National Airport showed a total of 111 arrivals and departures previously scheduled for the affected time periods, according to CNN.

Trump has been widely derided for his self-serving changes to the traditional holiday celebration.

The Washington Post editorial board said Trump’s planned “gaudy display of military hardware” is “more in keeping with a banana republic than the world’s oldest democracy.”

Trump pushed for things like tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue, but had to settle for a stationary display after concerns were raised about the damage that would be done to the city’s streets.

Trump wants America’s celebration of independence to be about Trump — and is all too happy to ruin Americans’ travel plans in order to get what he wants.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.