US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump will begin his Independence Day weekend with a patriotic display of fireworks at Mount Rushmore before a crowd of thousands.
But even in a part of the country where many remain supportive of the president in election year, the event has drawn controversy and protests.
Trump is expected to speak at the event, which has issued 7,500 tickets to watch fireworks that he previewed yesterday as a “display like few people have seen”.
The president will likely enjoy a show of support, with the state Republican Party selling T-shirts that feature Trump on the memorial alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
But concern about the coronavirus risk and wildfire danger from the fireworks, along with protests from Native American groups, will also greet the president.
Republican governor Kristi Noem, a Trump ally, has said social distancing will not be required during the event and masks will be optional.
Event organisers will provide masks to anyone who wants them and plan to screen attendees for symptoms of Covid-19.
The Republican mayor of the largest city near the monument, Rapid City, said he is watching for a spike in cases after the event, the Rapid City Journal reported.
“We’re going to have thousands of people, shoulder to shoulder at these events — someone in line to see a president and being able to see fireworks at Mount Rushmore — they are probably not likely to disqualify themself because they developed a cough the day of or the day before,” Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender said.
Leaders of several Native American tribes in the region also raised concerns that the event could lead to coronavirus outbreaks among their members, who they say are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 because of an underfunded health care system and chronic health conditions.
“The president is putting our tribal members at risk to stage a photo op at one of our most sacred sites,” said Harold Frazier, chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Some Native American groups are using Trump’s visit to protest against the Mount Rushmore memorial itself, pointing out that the Black Hills were taken from the Lakota people against treaty agreements.
Protests are expected in Keystone, the small town near the monument.
Chase Iron Eyes, a spokesman for the Oglala Sioux president, said protesters would like to make their voice heard at the memorial itself, but it is not clear they will be able to get close.
Security is expected to be tight, with the road leading up to Mount Rushmore shut down.
The governor’s spokesperson, Maggie Seidel, would not say whether the South Dakota National Guard was being deployed, but said organisers are making sure it is a safe event.
But several people who once oversaw fire danger at the national memorial have said setting off fireworks over the forest is a bad idea that could lead to a large wildfire.
Fireworks were called off after 2009 because a mountain pine beetle infestation increased the fire risks.
Noem pushed to get the fireworks resumed soon after she was elected, and enlisted Trump’s help.
The president brushed aside fire concerns earlier this year, saying, “What can burn? It’s stone.”
The National Park Service studied the potential effect of the fireworks for this year and found they would be safe, though it noted that in a dry year, a large fire was a risk.
Organisers are monitoring the fire conditions and were to decide today if the fireworks are safe.
Trump made no mention of the fire danger yesterday.
“They used to do it many years ago, and for some reason they were unable or unallowed to do it,” he said.
“They just weren’t allowed to do it, and I opened it up and we’re going to have a tremendous July 3 and then we’re coming back here, celebrating the Fourth of July in Washington, D.C.”
In November, Trump will go head to head with former vice president Joe Biden as he bids for another four years in the White House.
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