A-listers turned down the opportunity to perform at President Trump’s inauguration, and Trump was left with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and “America’s Got Talent” contestant (again, not the winner) Jackie Evancho as headliner to belt out the national anthem. With most of Hollywood having stumped for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the cold shoulder it collectively gave the Trump administration was far from surprising — especially so soon after the upset election. But it seemed possible celebs could eventually come around — after all, playing the White House isn’t such a bad gig. This year, the Hallmark channel is airing the concert, so there is exposure, too. And despite his penchant for starting grade A-list beef on Twitter, Trump has made some friends among the boldface set. Kim Kardashian, anyone?<doc-sep>Jimmy Fallon could barely contain himself at the time. Just a few months into his new gig as host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, he stood on the White House South Lawn for the Obama administration's first Independence Day celebration in 2009. The comedian was, to use the his own words, "like freaking out." "I can't believe I'm on the White House lawn. This makes no sense," he said in an interview hours before his evening performance. "I'll never forget this Fourth of July ever," continued Fallon, who would perform on the same stage as A-listers such as the Foo Fighters and singer Michelle Branch. "It's such an honour to be here. I'm so honoured. This is so cool." Performing at the White House is like a really big deal. At least it was during the Obama years, when marquee names lined up to take the hot summer stage on the South Lawn with the National Mall's storied fireworks display going off in the background. Big arena acts such as the Killers, Cedric the Entertainer, Brad Paisley, Pitbull, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monae and more have performed at the White House's BBQ, concert and firework viewing party, which is organised by the USO for more than a thousand military troops and their families. But that was then. This year, taking the stage will be two American Idol finalists. As in, not actual winners. Ever heard of Jax? Jonny Brenns? Not ringing a bell? You're not alone. And there's also country singer Sara Evans, whose last hit was back when Lost was still on the air (that was 2010, for the record, if you can remember that far back). Big-name acts that seemed old hat during the glittery Obama years have yet to warm up to the Trump administration. A-listers turned down the opportunity to perform at President Donald Trump's inauguration, and Trump was left with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and America's Got Talent contestant (again, not the winner) Jackie Evancho as headliner to belt out the national anthem. With most of Hollywood having stumped for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the cold shoulder it collectively gave the Trump administration was far from surprising - especially so soon after the upset election. But it seemed possible that celebs could eventually come around - after all, playing the White House isn't such a bad gig. This year, the Hallmark channel is airing the concert, so there's exposure, too. And despite his penchant for starting grade A-list beef on Twitter, Trump has made some friends among the boldface set. Kim Kardashian, anyone? Recommended Trump corrects tweet boasting about his writing after spelling mistake But it seems that it's still the case that top musicians fear alienating the chunk of their fan base who find Trump toxic. Since taking the Fourth of July gig, Jax, a pop-rock singer who finished third on American Idol in 2015, has faced a social-media backlash. In a recent interview with TMZ, Jax sought to make her decision to play on the White House lawn not about the guy who lives inside. "It's kinda a really unfortunate thing people can't separate politics and patriotism," she said. "I would have jumped at the chance to perform for any president," she tweeted this week. "It's an honour & once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the White House for a military event." Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone."<doc-sep>President Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted a picnic for military families at the White House in honor of Independence Day on Wednesday. He made brief remarks at the Fourth of July event ahead of fireworks later Wednesday night. "Melania and I are honored to celebrate American independence with the heroes who protect American independence. The men, the women of the United States military. These are our finest, thank you very much," Mr. Trump said at the event. Mr. Trump then singled out service members from the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marine Corps -- along with their families. He also touted his idea for a "space force" that would exist as a separate military service. "God bless you, God bless America, and God bless our military," Mr. Trump said, wrapping up his remarks. "Happy Fourth of July." Mr. Trump spent much of the holiday golfing at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Earlier Wednesday he wished Americans a happy Fourth of July in a series of tweets and videos.<doc-sep>
WASHINGTON – Amid political tests and tensions, President Donald Trump spent Wednesday's July Fourth holiday golfing, tweeting and hosting a White House picnic for military families. "Melania and I are honored to celebrate American independence with the heroes who protect American independence," Trump told troops and family members who gathered on the White House lawn for barbecue and fireworks. Earlier in the day, the president spent nearly four hours at the Trump National Golf Club in suburban Virginia on a 94-degree day. Trump also found time for some holiday tweeting, including another demand that oil-producing countries increase production to offset rising U.S. gas prices. "The OPEC Monopoly must remember that gas prices are up & they are doing little to help," the president tweeted. Other tweets hailed Independence Day itself. In addition to a general salutation – "Happy Fourth of July....Our Country is doing GREAT!" – Trump tweeted out a video in which he salutes the authors of the Declaration of Independence and the American soldiers who won the revolutionary war against Great Britain. Trump also saluted current members of the U.S. armed forces – "truly special people" – saying "we are in awe of their courage, and we are eternally in their debt." The low-key holiday came as Trump prepares for high stakes events in the coming days. The president is deciding whom to nominate to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, a decision he said he will announce Monday; the next day, Trump is scheduled to leave for Europe on a trip that includes a NATO summit and a meeting with Russia President Vladimir Putin. More:'Our most fundamental values are under attack': Democrats issue bleak July Fourth statement More:Supreme Court nominee short list features candidates President Trump likes for different reasons More:Donald Trump tells NATO allies to pay more for defense, raising tensions ahead of summit Some of Trump's critics, meanwhile, marked the Fourth of July by protesting administration policies ranging from immigration to the imminent Supreme Court selection. "Everywhere we look, our most fundamental values are under attack," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez in his Independence Day statement. "Thousands of children have been separated from their parents at our southern border," Perez said. "At our highest court, workers' rights are being taken away, voting rights are under assault, Muslim Americans are being discriminated against for their faith, and women's right to choose is under threat like never before." The president and first lady Melania Trump wrapped up the day at the picnic for military families, who were able to watch fireworks from the South Lawn of the White House. While praising members of every branch of the military, Trump also threw in a plug for his proposed "space force," saying that "everyone's very excited" about the idea. In tying Independence Day to a salute to the U.S. military, Trump said: "American liberty has been earned through the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of American patriots."