Jan Shairrick and two friends drove more than a thousand miles from southern Arkansas to join President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” Independence Day celebrations in Washington.

Some residents of the capital, however, stayed well away from the nearby festivities for fear of being wrongly identified as Trump supporters.

Trump has injected himself into this year’s Fourth of July celebrations by planning a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial and organizing a show of military power that includes a display of tanks and a flyover of fighter jets.

Critics accused Trump of hijacking and politicizing a traditionally nonpartisan holiday. Supporters said he was merely showing love for the country and its military.

“It’s just a celebration of America,” said Shairrick, sporting a “Trump 2020” baseball cap, a reference to the presidential election in November next year.

She and her friends all wore Trump merchandise and took refuge in one of the few shady spots along the route for the Independence Day parade on Constitution Avenue.

They said they saw no reason to protest Trump’s plans for this year’s event. Read more

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Jan Shairrick and two friends drove more than a thousand miles from southern Arkansas to join President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” Independence Day celebrations in Washington.

Some residents of the capital, however, stayed well away from the nearby festivities for fear of being wrongly identified as Trump supporters.

Jan Shairrick and two friends drove more than a thousand miles from southern Arkansas to join President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” Independence Day celebrations in Washington.

Some residents of the capital, however, stayed well away from the nearby festivities for fear of being wrongly identified as Trump supporters.

Jan Shairrick and two friends drove more than a thousand miles from southern Arkansas to join President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” Independence Day celebrations in Washington.

Some residents of the capital, however, stayed well away from the nearby festivities for fear of being wrongly identified as Trump supporters.