Trump Rolling Out Massive Military Hardware for 'Salute to America' July 4 Celebration
If you’re going to the massive “Salute to America” celebration on July Fourth in Washington, D.C., you can expect to see some of the nation’s most advanced military hardware on display.
You can also expect members of the District’s city council to be adamantly opposed to it.
First, the event: On Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters that the “Salute to America” event on the National Mall would indeed feature heavy hitters in the military department, including tanks and a flyover by Air Force One and the Navy’s Blue Angels, in addition to other jets.
Earlier in the day, The Washington Post had reported that the president “has asked the Pentagon to marshal a broadening array of military hardware, including tanks and fighter jets, to showcase his planned Fourth of July address to the nation.”
The report claimed that in addition to Air Force One and the Blue Angels, F-35 stealth fighter jets and Marine Helicopter Squadron One, the unit that flies the Marine One presidential helicopter, will also be involved. “We’re gonna have a great Fourth of July in Washington, D.C.,” the president said, according to Politico, adding that “it will be like no other and it will be special.”
“I hope a lot of people come, and it’s going to be about this country and it’s a salute to America, and I’m going to be here and I’m going to say a few words,” he said.
“And we’re going to have some tanks stationed outside,” Trump continued, adding that you have 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.”
The Council of D.C. apparently didn’t get that last part:
We have said it before, and we’ll say it again: Tanks, but no tanks. (PS: The @DeptofDefense agrees, see highlighted area below) pic.twitter.com/ock2EORKNz
— Council of DC (@councilofdc) July 1, 2019
“We have said it before, and we’ll say it again: Tanks, but no tanks,” the organization tweeted. The council also highlighted a Department of Defense document for planning a Veterans Day parade that read, “wheeled vehicles only, no tanks — consideration must be given to minimize damage to local infrastructure.”
Except, from the sound of things, that’s exactly what the planners are doing: There’s nothing to indicate that these tanks will be rumbling out on the streets of our nation’s capital.
Others mocked the fact that he said that “we have the brand new Sherman tanks and the brand new Abram tanks and we have some incredible equipment,” despite the fact that the Sherman tanks are profoundly superannuated and were phased out after World War II:
Hey @realDonaldTrump, the US hasn’t made any Sherman tanks in over 60 years.
Also, why are you suing to eliminate health care coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions? https://t.co/8yMs9iuwhm
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) July 1, 2019
Trump claims “brand new” World War II Sherman tanks will be part of July 4th salute to US military https://t.co/Zpr6ZSC6Dw
— Jeff Schogol (@JeffSchogol) July 1, 2019
Trump says July 4 celebration will have “brand new Sherman tanks.”
Sherman tanks haven’t been in service since 1957. https://t.co/c4CNwdkgCg
— Greg Miller (@gregpmiller) July 1, 2019
One loves how presidential gaffes become officially actionable when the president just happens to be a Republican.
These reactions probably are going to be worth the paper they were tweeted on.
The American people will be able to judge for themselves on the Fourth of July. If the tanks don’t cause damage to the local infrastructure in Washington, D.C., my guess is that most people will enjoy a show of good old patriotic military might.
Tanks, and tanks again.
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