MSNBC host Joy Reid claimed President Trump's decision to include tanks and military equipment in Washington, D.C's Fourth of July celebrations is a threat to Americans during an appearance on MSNBC's Deadline: White House on Tuesday.
"You mentioned France and Kim Jong-Un, who Donald Trump greatly admires Kim Jong-Un. He sort of aspires to be sort of a mini-Putin or Kim Jong-Un. He wants to have that kind of absolute power. He claims Kim Jong-Un's people just adore him. They have no choice because he would throw them in a gulag and probably kill them," Reid began.
"What is the message Donald Trump is trying to send by rolling tanks down Constitution Avenue?" Reid continued. "Who is that message to? It's certainly not to tyrants because he likes tyrants, he loves tyrants. It's not to Putin, it's not to Kim Jong-Un, not to the Saudis. Is it to our friends, to Western democracies who he doesn't particularly like, or is it to us? Is it to the resistance in this country? I got tanks. I have this military armada. The message is a threat, but it's always a threat when you roll out your military. But it's to whom is the threat, and I suspect that the threat is to his fellow Americans. And I hate to say that, but I think that Donald Trump styles himself a tyrant, not a defeater of tyrants."
Trump tweeted on Tuesday that Independence Day celebrations in the capital would include a display of America's military prowess.
"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!" Trump tweeted.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1146062242388959238
The celebration is expected to include flyovers from military jets and tanks, a speech from President Trump, and a large fireworks display.