Mount Rushmore, home to arguably one of the most patriotic fireworks displays in America, will not be lit up this year thanks to President Joe Biden’s administration.
According to the Washington Examiner, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem made her feelings known about the administration’s fight to deny a fireworks permit for the federal monument, an unfortunate decision that was later backed by the ruling of a federal judge who claimed the administration was within its rights to deny such a permit.
“It’s a beautiful day. I really wish that we were able to have fireworks here this year, probably not gonna happen because of the Biden administration, but look at all the wonderful people still enjoying this monument to history,” Noem said in a video posted to Twitter over the weekend.
We had a great time today at Mount Rushmore. Lots of people there enjoying our state’s wonderful monument to America’s history. #ILoveAmerica
pic.twitter.com/WXtPXqf8ZN
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) June 28, 2021
What happened?
Last year, under former President Donald Trump, the National Parks Service granted a permit for a fireworks show to take place at Mount Rushmore, an event that drew thousands and overall went swimmingly.
However, under President Biden, the National Parks Service denied the permit for this year’s show, citing several safety risks to include the pandemic, wildfire risks, and other safety risks posed by ongoing construction in the area — all excuses that many believe were exaggerated.
Not surprisingly, Noem, one of the Biden administration’s harshest critics in the realm of Republican governors, took the denial decision to the courts, which ultimately ended up with a federal judge tossing out the case, citing the administration’s right to deny the permit.
“After telling us they’d ‘circle back,’ the Biden Administration has not responded to our request to uphold the Memorandum Agreement between the State of South Dakota and the National Parks Service to host a safe and responsible national celebration and fireworks show,” Noem said of the situation.
“What a hypocrite”
After the court decision, Noem doubled down on slamming the new administration, taking Biden to task over his recent messaging in which he said America will “mark independence from the virus by celebrating with events across the country.”
“What a hypocrite. President @JoeBiden wants ‘a summer of freedom’ where we ‘mark independence from the virus by celebrating with events across the country.’ Translation: fireworks are fine at the White House, but not at Mount Rushmore,” Noem tweeted earlier this month.
More than 1,000 people, including essential workers and U.S. military personnel, are expected to be in attendance for the White House’s July 4 celebration.
Though a grand fireworks show won’t be held at Mount Rushmore this time around, patriotic South Dakotans will undoubtedly find a way to make up for it.
The post Kristi Noem slams Biden admin over Mount Rushmore fireworks permit denial first appeared on Conservative Institute.
No comments: