The July Fourth celebration, inspired in part by Trump’s visit to France during Bastille Day festivities in 2017 and informed by his affinity for the saber-rattling tyrants of the world, was a high point in the president’s battle to command reality. With the possible exception of rain streaks, the pictures from the rally were his image of himself and the country. Following his speech, Trump kept retweeting photographs of his own limo leaving the White House, of fighter jets flying, of the red stage and a strange cross-like formation of red elevated platforms, and of himself speaking. In these
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