'The inaugural organizers with to turn the various events into gold-plated opportunities for profiteering and influence-peddling. Trump, who talks about “my generals” &“my military,” decided to turn the normally pacific Independence Day ceremonies into a martially tinged self-branding exercise/rally, thus, to conflate a patriotic celebration with his reëlection campaign. If he had his way, he would add a dash of tin-pot militarism to the inaugural mix. The Pentagon reacted to the increased militarization of the 4th by “hiding out and hoping it all blows over.” They conceded that the costs, as much as 90 million dollars, would be too much, but now the WH refuses all requests for the costs. And so, we will watch Trump, who evaded military service by pleading phantom bone spurs, spend millions of dollars of public funds in order to enact a fantasy of martial leadership.'
At www.newyorker.com
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