AG百家乐在线官网

Salute To America: Washington DC gears up to host Trump's massive military parade

Donald Trump says military leaders are "thrilled" to be part of the event, but officials appear to be hiding their enthusiasm.

By Sharon Marris, news reporter

Thursday 4 July 2019 12:49, UK

A worker washes one of two M1A1 Abrams tanks that are loaded on rail cars at a rail yard on July 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump asked the Pentagon for military hardware, including tanks, to be displayed during Thursdays July 4th Salute to America celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Image: Local authorities in Washington DC are worried about the damage tanks could do to roads
Why you can trust Sky News

The US is preparing for an Independence Day parade that Donald Trump promises will be an "incredible" display from the "strongest military anywhere in the world".

The scale of the 4 July "Salute To America" event will be relatively new for a country that has traditionally not held such massive military parades on the streets.

Mr Trump's determination to throw such an event in the US came after he saw the Bastille Day parade in Paris two years ago.

Tourist visit the Lincoln Memorial ahead of Thursdays July 4th Salute to America celebration, on July 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump will deliver a speech at the memorial and has asked the Pentagon for military hardware to be on hand including tanks, and flyovers by military aircraft
Image: The parade will include a speech by the president, Donald Trump

Initial plans were scrapped due to the cost, objections from local officials in Washington DC and reluctance from then defence secretary Jim Mattis. But Mr Trump never quite gave up on the dream.

On Thursday, the US capital will find itself home to a massive military arsenal set to include:

  • An Air Force B-2 stealth bomber
  • Navy F-35 and F-18 fighter jets
  • The Navy Blue Angels aerial acrobatics team
  • Army and coast guard helicopters
  • Marine V-22 Ospreys
  • Bradley fighting vehicles
  • 60 tonne Army Abrams battle tanks
  • The presidential Air Force One and Marine One aircraft
Event workers arrive at the Lincoln Memorial ahead of Thursday's July Fourth Salute to America celebration, on July 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump will deliver a speech at the memorial with military hardware on display including tanks, and flyovers by military aircraft
Image: Preparation has started for the Salute To America parade

Mr Trump insisted military leaders were "thrilled" to be part of the event, writing on Twitter that they would be "showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced military anywhere in the world. Incredible flyovers and biggest ever fireworks!"

Pentagon officials appeared to be hiding their enthusiasm well, referring parade-related questions to the White House and declining to confirm whether General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, would attend.

U.S President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron attend the traditional Bastille day military parade on the Champs-Elysees on July 14, 2017 in Paris France. Bastille Day, the French National day commemorates this year the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United States of America into World War I
Image: Donald Trump has been keen on a military parade since his 2017 visit to Paris
Alpha jets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France fly over the Champs-Elysees avenue during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France, July 14, 2017
Image: The Bastille Day parade is a major event in Paris

Retired marine colonel David Lapan, a former senior spokesman at the Pentagon, said troops should be allowed to enjoy the holiday instead of being paraded.

"After 18-plus years of war, we have asked a lot of our military and their families, and they have sacrificed. Let's give them a day off rather than a day on for this holiday," he said.

The Pentagon has not released the cost of the parade but Mr Trump has his own cost prediction: "Very little compared to what it is worth."

People carry flags in front of statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea's foundation in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 9, 2018
Image: A military parade on such a scale is usually be the domain of authoritarian countries

The president wrote: "We own the planes, we have the pilots, the airport is right next door (Andrews), all we need is the fuel. We own the tanks and all. Fireworks are donated by two of the greats. Nice!"

However, the Air Force has said a B-52 bomber costs $122,311 (£97,300) an hour to fly and this one has to travel from its home in Missouri and back.

The parade has been designated a training event so the cost is already budgeted for, they said.

The cost for every hour the F-22 is in the air is $65,128 (£51,800) and it is unclear whether this is covered.

X This content is provided by X, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable X cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to X cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow X cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once

Angry officials in the District of Columbia are also worried about the damage a tank could do to city roads.

Some Trump critics have described the parade as a costly way of playing politics, using the military as a prop.

Minnesota Democrat representative Betty McCollum said: "Mr. Trump is hijacking the celebration and twisting it into a taxpayer-funded, partisan political rally that's more about promoting a Trumpian cult of personality than the spirit of American independence and freedom."

Related Topics