US President Donald Trump will preside over July 4 Independence Day celebrations today with a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial, a show of military might in the national mall and a giant fireworks display the US has ever seen.
Critics say it is politicizing an important holiday and wasting taxpayer money.
Amid questions about the cost and tone of the event, White House officials say the president will avoid politics and stick to patriotic themes in his speech.
With more on the reaction is political columnist for The Hill, Brent Budowsky.
