President Donald Trump will hold an early Fourth of July celebration at the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota on July 3.
Live coverage of the event will begin at 4 p.m. local time, with the event available to live stream via TravelSouthDakota.com. Trump is scheduled to arrive in South Dakota at around 6:45 p.m. local time, according to Argusleader.com.
In addition to Trump's attendance, the event will also feature fireworks, hoop dancers, "Lakota storytellers sharing the state's Native American culture, performances by the United States Air Force Academy concert band and many other talented people," the event's website said.
"Additionally, there will be incredible performances and flyovers in partnership with the United States Air Force and South Dakota's own Ellsworth Air Force Base," the site adds.
In an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, the event placed a limit on the number of attendees to 7,500 and fans who wanted to attend the event were required to enter a lottery, hosted by Recreation.gov.
Despite limiting the number of attendees, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said social distancing measures or masks won't be required, but masks will be given to those who ask.
"In South Dakota, we've told people to focus on personal responsibility. Every one of them has the opportunity to make a decision that they are comfortable with. So, we will be having celebrations of American independence, we will have a large event July 3," Noem said while speaking with Fox News on Monday.
"We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home, but those who want to come and join us, we'll be giving out free face masks if they choose to wear one," she added. "But we won't be social distancing, we're asking them to come, be ready to celebrate, to enjoy the freedoms and the liberties that we have in this country."
While Trump's visit to Mt. Rushmore will attract thousands of supporters, an "Anti-Trump Rally," is already planned for the same day to counter the president's celebration of America's Independence Day.
"As most of you all know, on July 3rd, 2020 the state of South Dakota will be welcoming Donald Trump and Mike Pence to the Mount Rushmore National Monument to celebrate the anniversary of America's 'independence,'" the Anti-Trump Rally's Facebook page reads. "Trump and Pence will be on sacred lands and we want to make it known that their presence and what the Trump Administration represents is unwelcome here. Therefore, we are asking that anyone who disagrees with the actions and ideologies of the Trump Administration show up and practice your first amendment rights of peaceful assembly and the freedom of speech."
The protest is scheduled for the same time as Trump's rally and as of Thursday, July 2, 75 people have indicated that they will attend.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and the South Dakota Department of Tourism for comment on the upcoming event but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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