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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is calling out Joe Biden for his hypocrisy after he denied the permit application for the state’s fireworks display at Mount Rushmore.
After more than a decade without the Mount Rushmore Fourth of July Fireworks Display, Governor Noem successfully held the patriotic celebration in 2020. Mount Rushmore was closed to the public for the event, but 7,500 people who had purchased tickets were able to attend. Then-President Donald Trump attended the event and gave a speech.
Now, the event is not going to happen once again, and it’s all thanks to Joe Biden.
Governor Noem tweeted about Biden’s decision, and announced that she would be fighting back, writing: “Mount Rushmore is the best place in America to celebrate our nation’s birthday — I just wish @JoeBiden could see that. His admin denied our permit application. We will more forward with our litigation and urge the court to help find a speedy resolution.”
Mount Rushmore is the best place in America to celebrate our nation’s birthday — I just wish @JoeBiden could see that. His admin denied our permit application. We will move forward with our litigation and urge the court to help find a speedy resolution.https://t.co/bEDbHlSJDO pic.twitter.com/L9vMluI7VO
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 15, 2022
In a letter written on March 14th, the U.S. Department of Interior informed the South Dakota Department of Tourism that the event would not be “safe and responsible.”
“After careful consideration, the NPS has determined that we are unable to grant your request for this permit to hold a special event with fireworks at the Memorial,” wrote Mount Rushmore National Memorial Superintendent Michelle Wheatley. “Based on the information provided in the application, we have determined that multiple such criteria are present for the requested event, each of which would be independently sufficient to deny the request for a permit.”
The Parks Service stated that Native American tribes had expressed concerns that the fireworks could have detrimental effects on the “traditional, cultural landscapes.”
Wheatley also noted that, “While current trends indicate COVID is not a factor in denying the permit, it remains a source of uncertainty.”
Noem voiced her frustration with the Biden administration in a statement released on March 15th.
“NPS announced this denial less than 24 hours after we reminded the court that this year’s permit application was still pending,” Governor Noem wrote. “Many of the reasons presented for their denial have been previously addressed, indicating that these reasons are not in good faith. We will move forward with our litigation and urge the court to help us come to a speedy resolution.”
The governor also noted the Biden administration’s hypocrisy, pointing out that South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore display was being blocked for the second year in a row, while the White House had not canceled its planned Fourth of July firework display.
“Last year, the President hypocritically held a fireworks celebration in Washington, D.C., while denying us our own event. This year, it looks like they are planning to do the same,” Noem said.
In a post on Twitter, the governor quoted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who praised the monument as a symbol of Democracy and American values.
“Zelensky reminds us of what Mount Rushmore represents to the world… FREEDOM. President Biden should honor that same symbol of Freedom by celebrating our birthday with fireworks at Mount Rushmore,” Governor Noem tweeted.
Zelensky reminds us of what Mount Rushmore represents to the world… FREEDOM.
President Biden should honor that same symbol of Freedom by celebrating our birthday with fireworks at Mount Rushmore. pic.twitter.com/knM74w6kTR
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 16, 2022
The Governor’s office also mentioned that the holiday fireworks display was part of an agreement Noem signed in 2019 with the U.S. Department of Interior under the Trump Administration to bring back the event which had been terminated in 2009.
