Republican Hopefuls March in July 4 Parades, Trump Absent

While several Republican presidential hopefuls, including Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis, plan to campaign at Fourth of July parades in early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump will be absent. Trump's campaign argues that he has been engaging with voters through recent rallies and events, but critics suggest that his absence may provide an opportunity for his rivals to gain ground. Trump's celebrity status and dominant position in Republican primary polling give him more flexibility in deviating from traditional retail politics, which some argue has become more of a performance for the cameras.