Trump boosts military might
‘Show of a lifetime’ to include flyovers, tanks
WASHINGTON — The military hardware is moving into place. So are the protesters. And, ever the showman, President Trump is promising the “show of a lifetime” on the National Mall for the Fourth of July.
Trump is marshalling tanks, bombers and other machinery of war for this year’s Independence Day celebration. It’s an event that is traditionally light on military might, and critics have accused the president of using America’s military as a political prop.
Trump pushed back Wednesday against complaints about the cost of the extravaganza, tweeting that the expenses “will be very little compared to what it is worth.”
Under White House direction, the Pentagon was scrambling to arrange for an Air Force B-2 stealth bomber and other warplanes to conduct flyovers of the celebration on the National Mall. There will be Navy F-35 and F-18 fighter jets, the Navy Blue Angels aerial acrobatics team, Army and Coast Guard helicopters and Marine V-22 Ospreys.
The Pentagon said it had made no overall estimate of the cost of the military’s participation. The Air Force said it costs $122,311 an hour to fly a B-2 bomber, which is making the trip from its home at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and back. Officials said this will be considered a training event, with the cost already budgeted. They said the per-hour flying cost of the F-22 fighter is $65,128.
Two Bradley fighting vehicles were in place Wednesday near the Lincoln Memorial, where Trump will deliver a speech for the Independence Day celebration. In addition, two 60-ton Army Abrams battle tanks were sent to Washington by rail to be positioned on or near the National Mall, to the dismay of District of Columbia officials.
Kevin Donahue, deputy mayor for public safety, told The Associated Press the city expects the federal government to pay for any damage to streets or bridges from moving the tanks. Civil engineers will assess the roads and bridges after July 4 to determine if any damage has been done.
Donahue said the city had little choice but to accept the tanks and other heavy equipment, despite objections from members of the City Council.
“We’re not consulted on these decisions, we’re not asked to approve them,” he said. “We don’t have the jurisdiction to say, ‘No, we don’t want tanks.’”