July 4: Donald Trump’s National Mall Speech Draws Small Crowds, and Social Media Is Making Sure He Knows

One day after Donald Trump‘s questionable event at Mount Rushmore, the first time in nearly a decade that fireworks were launched at the South Dakota monument, he then traveled back to Washington, D.C., for the celebration on the mall and another speech before the events.

While fears of the coronavirus preceded both events, many in the Nation’s Capital heeded warnings and guidelines to wear masks, social distance and stay home from the event unlike those in South Dakota. A half-hour before the president spoke, the National Mall had fewer people than past years for the fireworks and had even more for Trump’s speech that morphed into a campaign event out of the blue.

WTOP’s Ken Duffy reported that those on location weren’t more than you’d see on an average day in Washington, D.C., and were smaller than we’ve seen in past July 4th celebrations.

“I was definitely expecting to see some more people just because of the other events I’ve been to down here before,” attendee William Klein told the outlet just before 6 p.m. “But it is early, so maybe they’ll be more later on.”

The Park Service had around 300,000 masks on hand to give out to attendees, with Duffy reporting that they had only gone through eight boxes, with five coverings per pack. CNN coverage also showed thin crowds for the speech, with some showing up later when the fireworks began.

Many took to social media to share their own first-hand experiences, while others just wanted to joke around about the poor turnout for the president’s speech. While it was another highly divisive speech and earned plenty of criticism, the true eyes might be on Trump’s ability to bring people out. The luster has seemed to wear off for many.

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