DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Yes, there will be tanks at Trump's Fourth of July event — but there's a catch

Yes, there will be tanks at Trump's Fourth of July event — but there's a catch

Washington (CNN)A small number of M1 Abrams tanks and other armored vehicles will participate in President Donald Trump's July Fourth celebrations in Washington on Thursday, US defense officials have confirmed to CNN.

However, they will not parade down Pennsylvania Avenue due to the need to protect roads and bridges.

Trump later confirmed tanks would be present during remarks in the Oval Office.

"I'm going to be here and I'm going to say a few words and we're going to have planes going overhead, the best fighter jets in the world and other planes too and we're gonna have some tanks stationed outside," Trump said while also acknowledging that measures would need to be taken to protect infrastructure.

"You've got to be pretty careful with the tanks because the roads have a tendency not to like to carry heavy tanks so we have to put them in certain areas but we have the brand new Sherman tanks and we have the brand new Abrams tanks," Trump added.

While the US continues to operate the M1 Abrams tank the US military has not used World War II-era M4 Sherman tanks since the 1950s.

"We have some incredible equipment, military equipment on display -- brand new. And we're very proud of it," Trump said.
The event is being referred to as a "Salute to America," and will feature fireworks and a speech from Trump.

A US defense official said that the current plan is to have a very small number of armored vehicles participate as part of a "static display" at the event on the National Mall. The vehicles will not be moving thereby reducing the chance of damaging local infrastructure. The number of vehicles will be very small with the current plan to have two M1 Abrams tanks, two Bradley fighting vehicles and an armored M88 Recovery Vehicle, along with an "appropriate" number of accompanying personnel.

Multiple US military aircraft will participate in the celebrations as well, according to two defense officials, including the B-2 stealth bomber and F-22 fighter jets.

CNN had also previously reported that the Blue Angels demonstration team, which typically flies F/A-18s, would be present along with F-35 stealth jets and that the VC-25, the aircraft that serves as Air Force One when the President is on board, also will participate.

Earlier in his administration, Trump had announced his intent to hold a military parade on Veterans Day in Washington, DC, however he canceled those plans following estimates that put the cost of such a parade at tens of millions of dollars.

Trump blamed local Washington officials for the high costs of the canceled parade.

Military planners had determined that the now-canceled parade was not going to feature tanks or other tracked vehicles due to concerns they could damage infrastructure.

A Pentagon memo said the parade will "include wheeled vehicles only, no tanks," adding that "consideration must be given to minimize damage to local infrastructure."

By not having the tanks and Bradleys drive on DC streets as part of the July 4th festivities, planners hope to avoid any potential damage. As there are currently no armored vehicles stationed in DC, the vehicles are likely to be brought into DC via trains and transported to the location on the back of trucks.

The Washington Post was first to report Trump wanted tanks to take part in the July 4 event.

Other military assets will participate including the US Navy's flight demonstration team the Blue Angels and ceremonial units such as the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the US Army Band ("Pershing's Own"), and the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team.

One military official told CNN that F-35 stealth jets will also likely participate.

The Pentagon declined to comment on any costs associated with the July 4th celebration and with the units associated.
A spokesperson for the military's National Capital Region/US Army Military District of Washington referred CNN to the Department of the Interior, which did not respond to questions.

Officials told CNN that the White House has been actively involved in the planning of the celebration and had asked the Pentagon not to discuss details prior to the event.

A US military official told CNN last week that the cost of using military assets in this year's July Fourth celebration was estimated to be less than $1 million and that the military personnel involved are to be drawn from units based in the Washington area, helping to drive down costs.

The Department of Interior previously confirmed that Trump will give his "Salute to America" address on the National Mall this July Fourth, an unusual move by the President.

Trump and other presidents have previously held events at the White House to celebrate the nation's birthday, but typically have not been present at the traditional large celebrations on the Mall.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/01/politics/tanks-july-4-washington/index.html

The video is must watch Trump.

No other recent place to put this. Just another 'Monarchy' move out of the Trumps.

#UnwantedIvanka trends after Ivanka Trump's G-20 appearance

https://thehill.com/homenews/administrat...e-at-g20-summit

Too many pics/tweets to copy paste.

Those photos are great. She’s an unlikeable Forest Gump.

Tanks aren't all that's going to be there......

Trump baby blimp to loom over Trump's Fourth of July celebration

Protesters have obtained permission to fly a Trump baby blimp over the National Mall during President Trump's controversial Fourth of July celebration, according to NBC 4 Washington's Mark Segraves.

What's happening: The blimp, which has become a staple at demonstrations in opposition of Trump, received a permit from the National Mall's National Park Service to fly from 4am to 9pm. During that time, Trump is slated to host an elaborate "Salute to America" celebration, including aircraft demonstrations, rollouts of U.S. Army tanks, a VIP section and a speech from the president himself.

Between the lines: Concern surrounded the splashy affair quickly following its announcement, particularly the plans to debut tankers for the event. The Council of DC tweeted Monday: "Tanks, but no tanks," pointing to a previous Department of Defense memo regarding a planned Veteran's Day parade in which they said tanks would damage the local infrastructure. However, DOD is saying the vehicle display will be static, limiting harm to the city, according to CNN.

https://www.axios.com/trump-baby-blimp-p...lrbdpTSpGTsQzAI

We all know that the possibility of Trump actually being able to stay on message about Independence Day and what it means to our nation is slim to none.

Instead we can be fairly confident it will devolve into yet another diatribe of attacks and insults. A national disgrace.

Nice... I was hoping for baby Trump to make a showing.

Ivanka’s North Korea Photobombs Perplex White House Officials

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ivanka-trumps-north-korea-photobombs-perplex-white-house-officials


Ivanka Trump isn’t a diplomat. So why is she acting like one?

Somebody needs to hold his lil hand.

The Tanks and flights over head bother me, but not nearly as much as Trump inviting Republicans to attend but not Democrats.

Honestly, if it weren't for road damage and bridge damage that's expected, he'd have those tanks rolling down the Avenue along with Ballistic Missiles on trucks and Troops marching...

To me, that's what China does, Russia Does and as it turns out, what the French do. I don't care for it,, But I could live with it.

But FURTHER dividing this country is an act of Treason in my view.

I like how a draft Dodger got his party to basically throw a campaign rally on Independence Day. Sad.

Park Service to divert $2.5 million for Trump's July 4 event: report

https://thehill.com/homenews/administrat...-4-event-report

I'm assuming you forgot your purple, but if not:

Diverting money from Park Service to pay for this and he's selling/providing tickets to GOPer VIPs... Really? How many tickets do you think Nancy and Chuck got to hand out?

Trump's throwing a party and the park service will pay for it.

Wow the military can’t even afford to parade out their own tanks yet they get the most of our tax dollars? Pffft trump era Murica

Bet the park service could use some of that money to help prevent homelessness.

Well it seems Trump thinks it's much better to take money from the places where our citizens visit with their families and I mean who needs to maintain those places anyway?

Seems the tanks aren’t being paraded now. They will be parked strategically to protect everyone from bad guys. Overkill is the optimum word here. More likely just another task to appease a party of one in the WH.

He wants his military parade like he saw in France! Everybody stopped him until he kicked out the adults. Now he's going to use it on the 4th of July as a backdrop for a campaign rally.

Putin will be proud.

We all know that the odds are slim to none that this isn't turned into a huge political rally.

I mean who actually believes he can stay on point and speak about Independence Day and what it means to our nation?

He couldn't even hold a press conference with Putin without bringing up fake news with a dictator who has killed over 20 journalists.

What time does the parade start?

I'm ok with a military parade.

When I was a kid we went to the annual Airshow along Lake Erie. Every year.

I seem to remember a lot of military aircraft (even if decommissioned) there.

It was pretty cool to see as a kid.

Dont see a problem with a military parade whatsoever, especially on a holiday that celebrates winning our war for Independence.

The military is a large part of our country and our history whether or not the sissy half men want to acknowledge it. Not only our weaponry, but also our enlisted, and our vets, and the fallen. We should take every opportunity to celebrate them.

Military parades are a sign of weakness. July 4th isn’t about the military either. It’s about the ideals and values in which this country was founded on. We won our war for independence on September 3rd, 1783. The treaty of Paris.

Military parades arent a sign of weakness.

It is entirely appropriate.

Yes it is. Especially for the strongest country in the world.

It’s pathetic, especially since trump just views it as a campaign rally in honor of himself.

Only in your liberal 1 nut brain.

I know youre too busy kneeling, but did you ever actually listen to the National Anthem?

What part of Bombs Bursting In Air did you not understand.

Its a National Holiday celebrating a War for Independence that we won.

It is entirely appropriate to celebrate with a military parade.

Put down the bong.

The National anthem and Independence Day go hand in hand?

And now you want to insult a person who served because he doesn’t agree with you on a topic about parades. Yea, showing a lot of honoring there lol.

If you want to reject military parades, you can, but I dont care about your serving when your opinions are Anti American. If you dont want to celebrate our country's independence thats on you.

What a ridiculous reach. Sad.

Youre the one rejecting/twisting the country's national celebration.

I said military parades are weak. Especially with this president, it looks like a political event, and military personnel aren’t allowed to participate in political events.

I didn’t say a word about celebrating the 4th. You’re completely off base and flat out wrong. Stop making crap up. It’s pathetic.

Your liberal opinion is off base if you feel the national celebration is a political event. Newsflash, there is a national celebration every single year.

It is entirely appropriate to have a military parade for this holiday.

If you want to cry about it, thats on you. I'm surprised the liberals havent drowned in their tears already. The rest of us normal people will celebrate.

He earned the right to express any damn opinion he wants. Can't say the same for you.

"normal people" ? Hell nah...

I know this is a difficult reality for the left to acknowledge, because you are all deranged, but having an opinion doesnt make you right.

Neither does serving.

now I see why this thread's post count spiked.
get a room, you lot.

Never been a fan of parades.

I still remember My Parents dragging me out to see these things when I was a kid. Hot, uncomfortable, smelly... crowds of people broiling in the hot sun, watching crowds of people slowly moving past. The Shriners were the best part: 70 year old, fez-wearing grownass men driving tiny little motorized Playskool cars down a public street.

Parades (of any sort): one of life's dumbest inventions ever.

Here comes the libertarian radical extremist calling the left, the whole left, deranged. Then continues to say our opinions are wrong and our service doesn't matter because we don't like Trump using the military and a July 4th DC celebration as a publicity stunt for 2020.

This is a good thing to her... the libertarian.

If you dont like parades then dont go to them.

Lots of people enjoy them.

Ask all the Cavs fans.

Also, dont bag on the Shriners. They do tremendous work in the world to subsidize their childrens hospitals.

Good thing you don't like them, it's not for us.

If your views are Anti American, then your views are about worth as much as Bowe Bergdahl's.

But what else to expect from alt left extremists.

Um... that's kinda implied by my comments, right?




It's possible to do good works and also look st00pit driving a dorkmobile behind some high school majorettes.