If I were to ask you which three things would you never, under any circumstances, want to see in your life, what would they be?
Mine would be: someone’s broken bone breaking out through their skin, a giant puss-filled spot getting squeezed (sorry Dr Pimple Popper), and Donald Trump sat on a toilet as he’s about to take a massive shit. Shudders.
Luckily for me, I know I’ll never have to see the latter – although people in America will be able to see a replica of it later today as anti-war group CODEPINK take to the streets to protest the president’s politicisation of the Fourth of July.
The protest is taking place today (July 4) on the National Mall during Trump’s ‘Salute to America,’ with CODEPINK announcing yesterday that the Trump Baby Blimp and a 16-foot Trump Robot sitting on a golden toilet will make an appearance.
Both objects gained worldwide fame in London last month when protesters put them on display during Trump’s state visit to the UK.
CODEPINK co-director Ariel Gold said in a statement:
It is very alarming to see Trump turn a traditionally non-partisan celebration into a Trump rally and a military spectacle.
It’s absolutely shameful that money is being spent to divide this country even further, and to legitimise the violence of war when so many Americans don’t have access to basic healthcare.
The anti-war group denounce Trump’s politicisation of the traditionally nonpartisan holiday, with his celebration featuring heavy military equipment and heads of major military branches.
The president’s ‘Salute to America’ breaks precedent; previous presidents have refrained from putting themselves at the centre of a Fourth of July celebration out of concern it would politicise the day, TIME reports.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, said:
The president is shifting the Fourth of July festivities to celebrate his administration and to glorify war.
We will bring together people opposed to the pain and suffering caused by this administration, from concentration camps at the border to supplying weapons used by Saudi Arabia to kill Yemeni children.
We want to celebrate the power we have as Americans to work toward peace.
People hoping to see the Trump Baby Blimp in all its glory will inevitably be disappointed though, because the National Park Service does not allow helium balloons to fly on the National Mall.
The MailOnline reports the agency refused to make an exception for the blimp, and therefore refused to allow the 20-foot balloon to be filled with the gas needed to make it float.
The National Mall is also a no-flight zone, and so rather than being in sight of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall – where Trump will be speaking – Baby Trump will be near the Washington Monument.
Regardless, hundreds of Baby Trump balloons will be making their presence known so all is not lost.
Trump is scheduled to speak at 6:30pm, with the protest taking place between 2pm-6pm.
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).