ST. PAUL 鈥� South Dakotans could be paid a visit from President Donald Trump this July.
Speaking on a , Trump said he plans to attend the Independence Day fireworks display at Mt. Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota's Black Hills, which are set to take place for the first time since 2009 (unless they are cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic).
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Trump mentioned his travel plans off-handedly as he was complimenting South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's 鈥� as well as other Republican governors' 鈥� handling of state budgets during the nationwide coronavirus pandemic. for being one of few governors in the country who never issued a stay-at-home executive order.
"For 20 years or something, (the fireworks display) hasn鈥檛 been allowed for environmental reasons," Trump said. "Can you believe that? It鈥檚 all stone so I鈥檓 trying to say, 鈥榃here鈥檚 the environmental reason?鈥� Anyway, I got it approved so I鈥檓 going to go there on July 3 and they鈥檙e going to have the big fireworks."
The annual Independence Day fireworks, which took place from 1998 to 2009, ended due to wildfires in the monument's surrounding forests, not of the monument, itself.
Noem, as well as U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, all South Dakota Republicans, tweeted that they are looking forward to the president's visit.
"Thank you @POTUS for working with us to make this a reality," Noem . "There's truly no better place to celebrate America's birthday."
Noem has said that at this point, the display is still planned to take place this year despite the pandemic and locals' concerns over potential water contamination, as well as the Black Hills' sacredness to the state's Native American tribes.
