Kristi Noem, the Republican Governor of South Dakota, put the Biden administration on blast in the wake of getting a letter stating the administration’s denial of the state’s request for the Mount Rushmore Independence Day fireworks, this marks the second year in a row this has happened.
This denial letter comes from officials with the National Park Service (NPS) and was sent directly to the South Dakota Department of Tourism concerning the submitted permit application for the state’s Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration slated for 2022.
“Mount Rushmore is the best place in America to celebrate our nation’s birthday – I just wish President Biden could see that,” Noem claimed in a release. “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 went on to state that she plans to pursue legal actions in an effort to force a change in this decision.
“NPS announced this denial less than 24 hours after we reminded the court that this year’s permit application was still pending,” Noem stated. “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 rejection letter highlighted a few key reasons for its choices.
“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,” explained the letter.
“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,” it read.
The two main stopping points included worries about wildfires and objections from various Native American tribes. The Biden administration’s letter also highlighted that any such fireworks could pose “threats to the environment and Memorial resources.”
The last time that the patriotic event took place was 2020 with then-President Donald Trump making sure to attend.
When Trump took part in the previous celebration, Democrats whined, “Trump has disrespected Native communities time and time again.” In a tweet that has since been taken down from back in June 2020, it was also suggested “he’s holding a rally glorifying white supremacy at Mount Rushmore.”
The Democrats think Mt Rushmore is a display of white supremacy.
There’s no saving this country if Biden gets elected.
(They deleted their tweet.) pic.twitter.com/hm6r11IjRR
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) June 30, 2020
“Noem’s office told Fox News that under the governor’s leadership, the fireworks celebration in 2020 was returned to Mount Rushmore after being canceled for more than a decade, claimed a report from Fox News.
“The 2020 celebration incorporated NPS’ regular programming that was referenced in the letter,” Noem’s office stated in a report.
In an attempt to share her frustrations about the total denial, Noem took to social media.
“Once again, President Biden has denied our request to celebrate our nation’s independence at Mount Rushmore. At a time when our nation is so divided, you’d think Biden would want to unite Americans. Instead, he plays politics,” she stated.
Once again, President Biden has denied our request to celebrate our nation’s independence at Mount Rushmore.
At a time when our nation is so divided, you’d think Biden would want to unite Americans.
Instead, he plays politics.https://t.co/KVEFqXPlpq
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 15, 2022