Stars, stripes, and the orange baby blimp: Indelible images from Trump’s absurd July 4th celebration

The president's supporters and detractors are showing up with colorful garb and protest paraphernalia.

D. Parvaz Twitter Jul 4, 2019, 2:21 pm

A visitor stands in front of temporary fencing installed along the National Mall as set up continues for President Donald Trump's 'Salute to America' event honoring service branches on Independence Day at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday July 2, 2019. CREDIT: Caroline Brahmin/CQ Roll Call.

This year’s July 4 celebrations are marked by all sorts of firsts: Military flyovers, tanks rolling onto the National Mall, and the closure of National Airport for a couple of hours during the celebrations.

The nation’s capital has been preparing for Thursday’s night’s events, dubbed the “Salute to America,” with the president’s supporters and critics preparing for the big night:

A "Trump Baby" balloon is seen in front of the Washington Monument ahead of the "Salute to America" Fourth of July event with US President Donald Trump at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2019. CERDIT: Alastair Pike / AFP/Getty Images.

The Trump baby balloon, made popular when anti-Trump protesters flew it over London during President Trump’s visits there in 2018 and 2019, gazes at the Washington Memorial on Thursday.

Supporters of President Donald Trump gather in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 3, 2019. CREDIT: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/ Getty Images)

A Trump supporter waves his flag before the White House on Wednesday.

Protesters unveil a statue of US President Donald Trump tweeting on a toilet, at the National Mall ahead of the, "Salute to America" Fourth of July event with US President Donald Trump at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, July 4, 2019. CREDIT:Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP/Getty Images.

Anti-Trump protesters unveiled a statue showing the president on a toilet on Thursday.

A woman takes a photo near an armored military vehicle during the Fourth of July parade in Washington, DC, July 4, 2019.A Humvee is parked on a street in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2019. - Tanks in the heart of Washington, fighter jets screaming overhead, and a speech from the Lincoln Memorial: President Donald Trump has promised the "show of a lifetime" Thursday as he turns the Fourth of July into a personal primetime extravaganza. CREDIT: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images.

An armored personnel carrier parks on a sidewalk in downtown Washington, DC on Thursday.

Members of the US military are seen next to a Bradley Fighting Vehicle as preparations are made for the "Salute to America" Fourth of July event with President Donald Trump at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, July 3, 2019,CREDIT: Brendan Smialowski /AFP//Getty Images.

Tanks will be featured heavily in tonight’s celebrations, Here, a Bradley tank is prepped at the Lincoln Memorial.

Code Pink activist Medea Benjamin speaks during a news conference at the Lincoln Memorial to protest against President Trump and the tanks that were brought in for the Salute to America ceremony on the Fourth of July, on July 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. CREDIT: Mark Wilson/Getty Images.

Code Pink activist and anti-Trump protest regular Medea Benjamin spoke before the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.

A supporter of President Donald Trump stands in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 3, 2019. CREDIT: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images.

One of the president’s supporters offered an interpretation of the flag’s colors on Wednesday.