Article snippet: MORE avoided infusing partisan rhetoric into his rainy July 4 speech on the National Mall, though he still received energetic applause from a drenched crowd of supporters. At his long-planned “Salute to America,” Trump stood on a riser with bleachers of attendees and the Lincoln Memorial serving as a backdrop, and special guests seated to either side. VIPs with select tickets were able to stand in front of the reflecting pool to take in Trump's remarks, which focused largely on celebrating the American military. Fences spanning across the reflecting pool and onto the walkways halfway between the Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial prevented those without the credentials from getting too close, creating a separation of White House invitees and the rest of the general public. Instead, crowds of onlookers in red, white and blue packed into the sides of the Mall’s Reflecting Pool and settled for a distant view of the president on screens set up near the Lincoln Memorial as they endured spurts of heavy rain. The optics added fuel to criticism that Trump was putting on an event akin to one of his campaign rallies. Nevertheless, the determined crowd braved roughly three hours of rain-soaked shirts and ineffective ponchos as they eagerly awaited the president’s speech, chanting “USA," “four more years” and “Trump” at various times before and throughout Trump’s speech. The crowds even created new chants in light of the rain, with some shouting, “Put down the umbrel... Link to the full article to read more