Video posted to Twitter shows what appears to be two Bradley Fighting Vehicles designated for July 4 festivities being transported just outside Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Two M1 Abrams tanks and two Bradley Fighting Vehicles were to be moved into place Tuesday night to be on"static display" during President Donald Trump's"Salute to America," a defense official told ABC News, as part of the president's effort to re-shape the annual July Fourth celebration on the National Mall.
Trump tweeted on Tuesday,"The Pentagon & our great Military Leaders are thrilled to be doing this & showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced Military anywhere in the World. Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!" The flyovers will include the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team as well as other aircraft from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. That includes one of the Boeing 747s that serves as Air Force One and the public's first look at the new version of the Marine One helicopter that is not yet on active duty.
On hand for Trump's event at the Lincoln Memorial will be some of the nation's senior military leaders, including some of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to a defense official."No political candidate or party, no government office and no elected official should co-opt Independence Day for partisan agendas," Jeremy Butler, the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, wrote in Time magazine.
“I can’t speak for VFW’s huge membership but on behalf of the National Organization we are not going to judge how the President of the United States chooses to celebrate Independence Day, which is one of only three military holidays ,” said Joe Davis, the VFW's Director of Communications and Public Affairs.
The military will likely call the transport of the armored vehicles and the use of military aircraft flying above the nation's capital as training missions, the rationale being that the aircraft would be flying training missions anyway.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump Is Demanding Tanks for His 4th of July Freedom ExtravaganzaTrump is demanding tanks for his 4th of July event, which will take place less than a week after he praised the world’s greatest enemies of democracy
Read more »
'Brand new' tanks will be on display for July 4th: President Donald TrumpA small number of tanks and an assortment of military aircraft will participate in this year's national Fourth of July celebration in Washington.
Read more »
Trump touts tanks to be on display July 4th on National MallTwo U.S. Army M1 Abrams tanks and two Bradley Fighting Vehicles will be on display on the National Mall on Thursday as part of Pres. Trump's plan to highlight the U.S. military in this year's Independence Day celebration.
Read more »
Trump plans tanks and flyovers at Fourth of July celebration in WashingtonU.S. President Donald Trump says he plans to display battle tanks on Washington’s National Mall as part of a pumped-up Fourth of July celebration. More here:
Read more »
Trump isn't taking 'no tanks' for an answer for July FourthPresident Trump says military tanks will be part of Washington’s Fourth of July celebration. And on Monday evening, an AP photographer saw at least two M1A1 Abrams tanks on a rail car in Washington.
Read more »