Trump visits Arlington cemetery, Fort McHenry for Memorial Day as Baltimore mayor criticizes trip

President Trump was marking Memorial Day with appearances at Arlington National Cemetery and Baltimore’s historic Fort McHenry, honoring fallen military members while also sending a clear signal to the country that his agenda will be business-as-almost-usual amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A 21-gun salute greeted Trump as he arrived at the solemn ceremony by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Monday morning. Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Pence and second lady Karen Pence attended to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America’s freedoms.

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Trump saluted as members of the military played the National Anthem and Taps while Pence and Defense Secretary Mark Esper stood next to him with their hands on their hearts. Trump paused before the tomb with his hands clasped in front of him, touched the wreath -- adorned with a red, white and blue ribbon -- and then saluted again.

The military personnel and some VIPs in attendance had been wearing masks on the steps of the monument prior to the arrival of the Trumps and the Pences. But an unknown woman approached the dignitaries and asked everyone to take them off. Much of the group stood socially distanced on the outdoor stairs. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was spotted putting on a mask decorated with stars and stripes as he left the ceremony.

The ceremony, while customary for Memorial Day, along with the rest of the day's itinerary also sent a signal that the administration is looking to bring a return to normalcy.

After two months of lockdowns in many states, Trump has sought to put a priority on reopening the economy while continuing to abide by CDC guidelines. Unofficially, the Memorial Day weekend has marked the start, or at least an acceleration, of that experiment in parts of the country – with many families heading to the beach and states pressing forward with loosening restrictions.

Coinciding with this, the president played golf at his private Virginia club on Saturday and Sunday and kept a packed Memorial Day schedule – despite criticism from Baltimore’s mayor.

Mayor Bernard "Jack" Young late last week urged Trump to forgo his planned visit amid the city’s stay-at-home order.

"I wish that the president, as our nation's leader, would set a positive example and not travel during this holiday weekend," Young, a Democrat, said in a statement. “That President Trump is deciding to pursue nonessential travel sends the wrong message to our residents, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus."

The price tag for the visit in terms of security and personnel will hamper the city, which is already facing revenue losses of $20 million each month amid business closures and a fractured economy, Young said.

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The White House was not convinced.

"The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the president will not either as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our nation's history," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement Sunday.

Further, a spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who has clashed with Trump over his response to the pandemic, told the Baltimore Sun that they are "honored that the president and first lady have chosen to spend Memorial Day at Fort McHenry. Although Marylanders are encouraged not to gather in large numbers this year -- now more than ever -- it’s important to reflect on the American heroes who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.”

Trump will visit Baltimore just over a week after Maryland began to lift some of the restrictions put in place for the coronavirus, though they remain in effect in Baltimore. Baltimore and the Washington, D.C., area have the nation's highest percentages of positive cases, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force.

As Trump marks a solemn day on the American calendar, the country also will mark a grim milestone this week, with the pandemic expected to claim its 100,000th American.

Trump, who has likened himself to a “wartime” president in the fight against the virus, started Monday with his visit just across the Potomac, to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before heading to Baltimore.

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He is expected to speak later at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. It's near where Francis Scott Key wrote the poem -- inspired by a huge American flag that was hoisted to celebrate an important victory over the British during the War of 1812 -- that became "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Fox News’ Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.