Trump's speech focused largely on praising the United States' cultural and military accomplishments and featured themes of American exceptionalism and patriotism.

[3][4] In February 2019, Trump announced on Twitter plans for a "Salute to America" celebration on Independence Day, promising entertainment, a "major" fireworks display and "an address by your favorite President, me!"

[7] The National Park Service stated that Trump's event was not expected to conflict with other traditional Independence Day events held at the Capitol like the National Independence Day Parade, the televised A Capitol Fourth concert, and its associated fireworks display— although, due to Salute to America, fireworks were launched from West Potomac Park, rather than the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

[12][13][14] D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser said the city's additional security costs for the event amounted to $1.7 million, not including police management of demonstrations.

[16] The Department of Defense noted it has a "long history of showcasing military assets to the country" and spends comparable amounts of money, if not more, during events such as Fleet Week.

[23] Salute to America featured fireworks, seven flyovers, and musical performances, as well as the first address from the National Mall on Independence Day by a sitting president in 68 years.

[25] Trump's address honored the history of the United States and praised the achievements of historical American figures, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Douglas MacArthur, Fred Trump, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson, and John Glenn.

Special guests included Florida hurricane volunteer Tina "Angel" Belcher, cancer biologist Emil J. Freireich, Civil rights movement hero Clarence Henderson, and flight director for NASA's Apollo 11 mission Gene Kranz.

Two M1A2 Abrams tanks and two M2 Bradley IFVs from the 3rd Infantry Division were put on stationary display around the Lincoln Memorial for the public while aircraft representing each service branch conducted flyovers during Trump's address.

[35][36][26] A perimeter was constructed around the Lincoln Memorial with wire fencing spanning the Reflecting Pool to separate the ticketed areas intended for VIP spectators from the public.

Multiple photographs taken during the event showed large crowds both within the guest section and of the public on the National Mall, including tourists and general event-goers.

[45] Weather affected the event; rainstorms passed through the area, while temperature inversion caused the smoke from the fireworks display to accumulate, partially obscuring spectators' views of the show.

This beat CNN and MSNBC's combined viewership in both categories and topped NBC's prime time coverage of the Macy's Independence Day fireworks show from New York City, which averaged 3.8 million total viewers—its lowest ratings in four years.

[52][53] Prior to the event, Michelle Cottle of The New York Times, former House Republican David Jolly, and radio host Charlie Sykes accused Trump of turning the "non-partisan" Independence Day holiday into a political event—co-opting the celebration to promote his 2020 presidential re-election campaign.

[43] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington noted that Department of Defense rules forbid military members from participating in political events and that the Hatch Act could also potentially apply.

[43] Journalist and writer Jeff Greenfield noted that prior presidents had given speeches on Independence Day and political parties have used the holiday as a platform since their inception.

He added that the inclusion of military equipment could be excused as Trump's attempt to "emulate Thomas Jefferson" in 1801 rather than an authoritarian celebration of militarism "more common to Moscow and Pyongyang."

"[7] The National Park Service issued a permit allowing the activist organization Code Pink to display a Donald Trump baby balloon during the event.

[60][61] Around 5:30 pm local, an hour before Trump's speech, two members of the Revolutionary Communist Party were arrested by Secret Service officers after scuffles broke out with counter-protesters during a flag burning protest in front of the White House.

[69] On July 8, three Democratic members of the Senate Appropriations Committee requested the Government Accountability Office investigate the costs and legality of the event.