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White House exerted pressure navy Officials will launch 2,000-pound live bombs instead of dummy explosives during 250th anniversary celebration he president donald trump According to a new report, attended.
A person familiar with planning the event told The Associated Press that White House officials stressed to Navy planners that Trump “needs to see an explosion” rather than just a “big splash.” October 5 demonstration,
Another person familiar with the Navy’s planning said the Navy’s original plan for the Titans of the Sea presidential review called for military personnel to use dummies, not live bombs.
The person would not comment on why the Navy decided to switch to live bombs. The White House said no switch was made.
“Organizers have always planned to use live weapons, as is common in training exercises,” Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.
The episode is the latest example of the Trump administration bending the military toward the president’s wishes in ways big and small — from summoning generals from around the world to Washington. for a day of speeches to his Deadly attacks on alleged drug boats In the Caribbean and Pacific.
The Navy and other military branches commonly use dummy or inert bombs for training and demonstrations. Dummies are cheaper than live bombs because they do not contain expensive explosives, fuses and other components. They are also safer.
Military officials often argue that the use of live ammunition for events such as 250th birthday celebrations also serves a training purpose and the ordnance will be expended at a later date.
The switch required naval officials to alter detailed plans for Norfolk, VirginiaThe military demonstration was carried out to ensure security protocols, according to three people familiar with the planning.
the White House The event went ahead despite the ongoing government shutdown.Due to which non-essential federal employees have been sent home without pay and the operation of many non-critical government services has been reduced.
Confirmation that the Navy has decided to use live bombs instead of dummies at the Naval Base Norfolk program comes as the administration faces scrutiny over an October 18 live fire demonstration at Marine Base Camp Pendleton, in which a misfire of a live artillery round caused shrapnel to fall on Interstate 5 in Southern California. California,
No one was injured when two California Highway Patrol vehicles were struck by shrapnel.
Trump has not been shy about his fondness for the pomp and pageantry that celebrates military power.
In his second term, he has encouraged the American services to organize large parades and demonstrations, an idea inspired by the Bastille Day parade in which he participated in France at the beginning of his first term.
The Army included the tanks in the June parade in Washington, D.C., which Trump requested to mark its 250th anniversary, which coincided with the president’s 79th birthday.
At a Navy ceremony in Norfolk this month, the president and first lady Melania Trump watched a military demonstration from the deck of an aircraft carrier before Trump delivered a speech in which he criticized his political opponents and attacked Democratic lawmakers.