On the day that another school shooting took place in America and a reported tax return showed that Donald Trump lost more than £1 billion in a ten-year period, the president seemed to be more focused on something else.
No, it wasn't the 2020 election or 'MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN' - it was fireworks. And not just any old fireworks, either...'BIG FIREWORKS' that will be fired into the skies surrounding Mount Rushmore on 4 July.
This bizarre tweet from the president was in reference to the governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem announcing on 7 May, that a firework display will return to the historic site in 2020 after a series of meetings between the star and the US Department of the Interior.
We are excited and honoured to see fireworks return to our nation’s Shrine of Democracy. When the fireworks were previously held at Mount Rushmore, the show was beamed around the globe via satellite.
The entire world was able to view a celebration of our nation’s freedoms from the majestic memorial and the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
There is no more fitting place in all the nation to celebrate our democracy than from Mount Rushmore. We are grateful to President Trump and Interior Secretary Bernhardt for helping us make this happen.
We doubt anyone would begrudge the good people of South Dakota enjoying fireworks on Independence Day, but the timing and tone of Trump's tweet backfired on the president, with people reminding him of arguably more important issues that are currently happening in the US.
There was a shooting in a school today, just hours ago. A child has been murdered and several others are injured. https://t.co/YkAYuQNHTd— maura quint (@maura quint) 1557280722
@realDonaldTrump @govkristinoem @SecBernhardt There was another school shooting today. But yay. Fireworks!— Michael Edgecomb (@Michael Edgecomb) 1557283062
@realDonaldTrump After a mass shooting, nothing soothes the soul of a mourning nation like the promise of celebratory pyrotechnics.— kyla (@kyla) 1557283502
Others believed he was trying to cover up the story about his taxes.
THE BIG FIREWORKS are really in the @nytimes expose of your taxes and billion dollar loss. https://t.co/hIvWW8a9wl— BOOTLEG CHEESECAKES ARE IN MIAMI BEACH! (@BOOTLEG CHEESECAKES ARE IN MIAMI BEACH!) 1557283159
NARRATOR: Pay no attention to the breaking news of Trump (supposedly a billionaire) not paying ANY taxes for a dec… https://t.co/nPBi1iR47U— Navy Mom GET VAXXED (@Navy Mom GET VAXXED) 1557280565
@realDonaldTrump @govkristinoem @SecBernhardt I know a billion reasons @realDonaldTrump doesn't want his taxes released. LOL.— Darryl Silver (@Darryl Silver) 1557280309
@realDonaldTrump @govkristinoem @SecBernhardt If you want to see some real fireworks, you should read that New York… https://t.co/rkvJlyDhRF— Andrew Ungvari (@Andrew Ungvari) 1557280492
@realDonaldTrump @govkristinoem @SecBernhardt Weird. My news headlines are a school shooting, tariffs, and your tax returns.— Trump's Ties (@Trump's Ties) 1557280994
Some just used it to ridicule Trump further.
president loves his big fireworks https://t.co/GroeTSA4us— Dave Itzkoff (@Dave Itzkoff) 1557280420
@realDonaldTrump @govkristinoem @SecBernhardt I, as a liberal, went to Mount Rushmore twice in one year last year.… https://t.co/VUBHT1yMJ2— Sarah Wood (@Sarah Wood) 1557280611
HT The Hill