Trump family gets formal invitation to Mount Rushmore fireworks

The Trump family has its invitation to attend the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Fireworks scheduled for July 3.

In a South Dakota House of Representative resolution with 18 house representatives — including District 30 Reps. Julie Frye-Mueller and Tim Goodwin — and two senators — including District 30 Sen. Lance Russell — signing on as sponsors, the legislature formally invited President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to watch the fireworks at Mount Rushmore  July 3.

“Now, therefore be it resolved, by the House of Representatives of the 95th Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are hereby invited to visit the great state of South Dakota and the national treasure of Mount Rushmore for the fourth of July fireworks celebration,” the resolution reads.

The resolution passed in the house 60-7 with three votes excused. The resolution was introduced in the house Feb. 4, voted upon Feb. 6 and signed by Steven Haugaard of Sioux Falls, who was also signed on as a sponsor of the resolution.

In May of 2019 it was announced that work was being done by South Dakota and the Department of the Interior to bring fireworks back to the memorial, which has not seen fireworks in over a decade.

Fireworks stopped being held at the memorial due to environmental issues — particularly ground water pollution, fire hazards and damage to the surrounding environment. In January, President Trump — while signing the U.S.-China trade deal — said the fireworks at Mount Rushmore would be happening and expressed his interest and desire of attending the fireworks.

On Jan. 30 Patricia Trap, acting superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Rob Wallace, assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the Department of the Interior and David Vela, acting National Parks Service director, met at Mount Rushmore to discuss the current status of the proposal.

“I’m here in particular because of (President Donald Trump’s) interest in the Fourth of July fireworks out here at Mount Rushmore,” Wallace said at the Jan. 30 press conference. “He’s very excited about this opportunity. I know he wants to work with (South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem) and be a great partner with her interests in the fireworks display.”