Flyover by US Air Force Thunderbirds, Navy Blue Angels

US President Donald Trump and guests watched an air show over the White House in Washington DC on Saturday as part of celebrations to mark the Fourth of July.

Even as officials across the country pleaded with Americans to curb their enthusiasm for large Fourth of July crowds, Trump enticed the masses with a “special evening” of tribute, air show, and fireworks staged with new U.S. coronavirus infections on the rise.

Trump's guests on the South Lawn for the "Salute for America" event were doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers and military members as well as officials from the administration, according to the deputy White House press secretary.

He said the event was a tribute to the “tremendous courage and spirit” of front-line workers and the public in the pandemic.

Trump's endorsement of big gatherings at the National Mall and, before that, at Mount Rushmore came as many communities decided to scrap fireworks, parades and other holiday traditions in hopes of avoiding yet more surges in infection.The U.S. set another record Friday with 52,300 newly reported infections.

(Image Credit: AP)