Trump Aims to Carve His Face into Mount Rushmore Amid Chaos and Hail

Donald Trump is on his way to Mount Rushmore, where he envisions his face joining the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. This comes despite his previous denials about wanting to add his visage to the iconic monument, although he did express in a 2020 social media post that it “sounds like a good idea to me!”

His arrival in South Dakota kicks off the July 4 weekend celebrations after a heatwave forced the cancellation of his Great American State Fair in Washington. The event has been plagued by a series of blunders, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turning green from algae shortly after renovations, and issues with crowd sizes and infrastructure at the state fair.

Following Trump’s speech, a large fireworks display is planned, raising concerns from environmentalists about potential wildfires. He will then return to D.C. for a “really long” speech late Saturday night, promising an even bigger fireworks show without clarifying the funding source.

The preshow for the Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore was interrupted by a shelter-in-place warning due to a hailstorm. Reports indicate that it is still drizzling at the South Dakota event.

The Treasury Department has approved stock contributions for a child savings account initiative dubbed “Trump Accounts.” Trump hailed this as “another fantastic America First Victory” in a Truth Social post. He stated that the Department of Treasury will now accept philanthropic contributions of publicly traded stock to fund these accounts for eligible American children.

Trump claimed this initiative opens doors for American businesses and philanthropists to invest in the future of children, aiming to cultivate a generation of savers and investors. The administration reported that over six million families have signed up for “Trump Accounts” ahead of its official launch.

Trump is set to deliver his remarks at Mount Rushmore around 10:30 p.m. ET, marking the start of the July 4 festivities. If past rallies are any indication, he will likely boast about the renovations in Washington, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool fiasco.

The Great American State Fair will now open two hours later than scheduled due to extreme heat conditions in Washington, D.C., with organizers announcing a new opening time of 12:00 PM instead of 10:00 AM.

Guests are advised to stay hydrated and take precautions against the heat during the fair. Meanwhile, a hailstorm at Mount Rushmore has disrupted plans for celebrating America’s 250th birthday but is expected to pass soon.

Trump is still planning to fly the new Air Force One over Mount Rushmore, as thousands seek shelter from the weather. Reports indicate that hailstones are as large as half-dollars.

As if the state fair shutdown wasn’t enough, another shelter-in-place warning has been issued at Mount Rushmore due to hail. This marks the second such warning today, following an earlier alert due to nearby lightning strikes.

The preshow for Trump’s event has been paused amid these weather disruptions. Trump will be joined by family members, including Donald Trump Jr., Bettina Trump, Tiffany Trump, and her husband Michael Boulos. Notably absent will be first lady Melania Trump.

Trump has departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and is en route to South Dakota for his speech at Mount Rushmore.