President Donald Trump is threatening to turn one of America's most sacrosanct modern traditions — the July 4th fireworks celebration on the National Mall — into a personal vanity project, like his monogrammed buildings or his cult-like rallies. Against all precedent, he wants this year's event to include a personal address, by him, to the nation.

The annual celebration has long been a time for Americans to come together, if only for a few hours of fireworks-crowned spectacle. Making it about Trump — whose political brand depends on dividing Americans against each other — would trash this tradition the way he's already trashed political civility and respect for the rule of law. If there was ever a time for Trump's fellow Republicans to back him off, this is it.

Trump's ongoing assault against presidential norms is never so distressing as when he mimics the self-aggrandizing antics of dictators. Whether it's distorting election results to inflate his own performance, or vilifying the free press to whip up adoring cheers from his supporters, or threatening to use the power of the presidency to investigate his critics, this putative national leader has shown, repeatedly, where his priorities actually lie: It's all about him.

He has long yearned for the kind of martial pomp that dictators can order up on a whim, but that U.S. presidents, alas, generally cannot. In 2017, he proposed a military parade — tank columns rolling by, fighter jets streaming overhead, America's dear leader reviewing it all from a central place of honor. His dream collapsed over cost concerns.

Trump's drive for that strongman moment has now focused on taking over the existing July 4th celebration. The man who is supposed to be busy leading the free world reportedly has inserted himself into the logistical minutiae of the festivities like some obsessed event planner. Among the numerous changes he reportedly has ordered up is an address from himself, to be given from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Fireworks would be moved away from the Mall.

Lest anyone think this address would be Trump turning some new page as a unifying figure in our divided nation, a tweet hinting at this plan back in February says it all: "Major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite President, me!"

The latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate shows almost 53% of Americans emphatically don't hold that favorable view.

But even if Trump hadn't spent the past two years using the White House pulpit to denigrate fellow Americans, including Democrats, immigrants, Muslims, and basically anyone else who didn't lavish him with personal praise — even if he was remotely as beloved as he believes himself to be — this would be a repugnant idea.

This celebration is America's, not Trump's. He should keep his hands off it.

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