United States president Donald Trump will close Washington Ronald Reagan National airport for two hours on Thursday, July 4th to accommodate a military flyover and a fireworks event.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced yesterday that flights at Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport will be suspended. The runways will be closed from 6:15 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. ET to accommodate a military flyover.The flyover will include Air Force One, a B2 bomber, F22 fighters, and the Navy’s Blue Angels aerobatics team. The airport will then be closed again from 9 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. ET for a massive fireworks display.

Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International

Flights to and from Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will not be affected, according to an FAA statement.

As America prepares to celebrate her 243rd birthday, President Donald Trump has taken over the capital's 4th of July celebrations. In earlier years the highly-acclaimed Smithsonian Museum sponsored a festival that celebrated foreign cultures. This year, that’s about to change in favor of tanks, fighter jets, and a Trump rally.

Big 4th of July in D.C. “Salute to America.” The Pentagon & our great Military Leaders are thrilled to be doing this & showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced Military anywhere in the World. Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019

To accommodate the former reality star and casino mogul's wishes, the fireworks display launch point has been moved from the National Mall to the Tidal Basin.

Fireworks on the 4th of July is an American tradition that celebrates the country’s independence from Great Britain. This year's display will be bigger than ever. Mike Litterst, a spokesperson for the National Park Service's Washington sites, told MSN,

"We're gearing up for what I think we can safely say without hyperbole is going to be the biggest fireworks show that D.C. has seen."

"A Salute to America"

Calling the event “A Salute to America”, Trump has wanted to stage a nationalistic show ever since he saw how France celebrated Bastille Day, while visiting president Macron in 2017.

While no military hardware will be rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Guard plans to triple the number of troops on the streets from 300 to 900 to provide extra security for the celebrations. While talking to reporters at the White House yesterday, Trump said:

"We're gonna have a great Fourth of July in Washington, DC. It'll be like no other, it'll be special and I hope a lot of people come and it's going to be about this country and it's a "Salute to America. And I'm going to be here and I'm going to say a few words and we're going to have planes going overhead, the best fighter jets in the world and other planes too. And we're gonna have some tanks stationed outside."

Democrats criticise Trump

In earlier years, American presidents have avoided turning the nation’s birthday into a political event. Trumps actions have been met with criticism from several politicians.

Rep. Gerald Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, told the New York Times that Trump "can't resist injecting partisan politics into the most nonpartisan sacred American holiday: The Fourth of July," adding, “It’s part of a pattern of driving wedges between Americans and making himself the subject of attention.”

For those not familiar with Washington airports, Ronald Reagan National Airport is the closest to downtown and handles mostly domestic flights, while Dulles Airport, 26 miles away in Virginia, is where international flights arrive and leave.