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Trump's 4 July tanks prompt 'don't panic' warning Trump's 4 July tanks prompt 'don't panic' warning
(about 1 hour later)
The US military has told Washington DC residents not to panic if they see tanks on the streets for President Donald Trump's Independence Day parade.The US military has told Washington DC residents not to panic if they see tanks on the streets for President Donald Trump's Independence Day parade.
At least two Bradley armoured carriers and two M1A1 Abrams Tanks will be moved to the heart of the US capital for the president's "Salute to America".At least two Bradley armoured carriers and two M1A1 Abrams Tanks will be moved to the heart of the US capital for the president's "Salute to America".
The National Park Service will reportedly divert nearly $2.5m (£2m) to cover the cost of the event.The National Park Service will reportedly divert nearly $2.5m (£2m) to cover the cost of the event.
Mr Trump tweeted his 4 July celebration will be "the show of a lifetime." Mr Trump tweeted his 4 July celebration will be "the show of a lifetime".
As well as tanks, the event will feature a military jet flyover, an extended fireworks show and speech by the president at the Lincoln Memorial. What will happen?
Mr Trump invited the leadership of the Department of Defense to celebrate alongside him on Thursday. Mr Trump's Fourth of July extravaganza will feature an assortment of tanks as well as a military jet flyover, an extended fireworks show and speech by the president at the Lincoln Memorial.
The president will be joined by top brass, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, the highest-ranking US military officer. As the armoured vehicles were transported from a railyard in south-eastern Washington DC on Tuesday evening, military officials advised residents not to be alarmed.
But the weather forecast is threatening to rain on Mr Trump's parade. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are predicted for Thursday.
Army Col Sunset Belinsky told a local CBS News affiliate: "Residents of the Capitol City will see the vehicles move through their neighbourhoods, but should not panic."Army Col Sunset Belinsky told a local CBS News affiliate: "Residents of the Capitol City will see the vehicles move through their neighbourhoods, but should not panic."
The tanks were moved from a railyard in south-eastern Washington DC on Tuesday evening.
Col Belinsky did not disclose where the tanks would be displayed on the National Mall in the city centre.Col Belinsky did not disclose where the tanks would be displayed on the National Mall in the city centre.
Mr Trump's Independence Day plans have divided opinion. "The Pentagon & our great Military Leaders are thrilled to be doing this," Mr Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday. "Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!"
Critics of the president see it as an inappropriately partisan display and a misuse of public funds. But the weather forecast is threatening to rain on Mr Trump's parade. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are predicted for Thursday.
The event will be open to the public free of charge, apart from a ticketed area for VIPs in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Who's invited?
Mr Trump will be joined on Thursday by a Pentagon delegation led by the highest-ranking US military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford.
But the service chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps will not attend.
The Department of Defence said in a statement it had received 5,000 tickets from the White House.
Both the Republican National Committee and Mr Trump's campaign confirmed to US media they had also received passes to hand out.
The White House has reportedly also distributed VIP tickets to major donors and political appointees.
This week, Mr Trump's re-election campaign sent out an email encouraging supporters to attend the event.
But the Democratic National Committee has been given no tickets for the event.
It is unclear whether those without a ticket will be permitted into an area protected by Secret Service as the president delivers his speech.
Partisan or patriotic?
During the Obama administration, a routine military exercise in Texas fostered all manner of fevered talk of an impending military coup. Now tanks are arriving in the nation's capital, Air Force jets are planning a show of force and the US Army is telling local residents not to be alarmed.
Conspiracy theorists have been largely silent, however. It's a sign of how much has changed in just a few years.
Donald Trump's "salute to the troops", despite being hastily planned, is - like the Trump presidency itself - a norm-breaking development. It's a military-draped political rally on the ground where Martin Luther King Jr once gave his "I have a Dream" speech.
The Republican Party is distributing tickets to VIPs, the president is planning an address and the financially strapped National Park Service has diverted funds for the event.
Democrats are up in arms about the politicisation of a holiday best known for neighbourhood parades, a kitschy musical show near the Capitol and fireworks displays large and small.
The president will dismiss such criticism as unpatriotic and revel in the glow of military might. And, like all Trump-related conflagrations, this will burn bright but eventually fade away.
Or maybe it will rain.
How much will it cost?
Trump administration officials have not disclosed how much taxpayers' money will be used for the 4 July celebration. Military flyovers alone cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour.
Mr Trump said in a tweet that the expense "will be very little compared to what it is worth".
The National Park Service is diverting a portion of entrance and recreation fees intended to improve parks across the US in order to foot the bill for the parade, reports the Washington Post.The National Park Service is diverting a portion of entrance and recreation fees intended to improve parks across the US in order to foot the bill for the parade, reports the Washington Post.
In previous years, the 4 July celebration on the National Mall has typically cost the agency about $2m, according to the newspaper.In previous years, the 4 July celebration on the National Mall has typically cost the agency about $2m, according to the newspaper.
The diverted funds are just a small fraction of the National Park Service's $2bn plus budget.The diverted funds are just a small fraction of the National Park Service's $2bn plus budget.
But the agency complained in March that it is facing almost $12bn in backlogged maintenance and repair needs - exacerbated by the US government shutdown at the beginning of this year.But the agency complained in March that it is facing almost $12bn in backlogged maintenance and repair needs - exacerbated by the US government shutdown at the beginning of this year.
Trump administration officials have not disclosed how much taxpayers' money will be used for the 4 July celebration. Military flyovers alone cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour. Mr Trump's plans for a military display on Veterans Day in November last year were dropped after defence officials said it would cost about $92m - more than three times the original estimate.
Mr Trump said in a tweet that the expense "will be very little compared to what it is worth". What's the reaction?
On Monday, the National Park Service issued a permit to feminist group Code Pink, allowing them to display an inflatable balloon depicting Mr Trump as a baby on a section of the National Mall on 4 July to protest against the "militarisation" of the US holiday. Mr Trump's Independence Day plans have divided opinion.
"We requested a space on the large, empty expanse at the base of the Washington Monument that would not have obstructed anyone's view but would have allowed the president to see the baby," said the group in a statement. Critics of the president see it as an inappropriately partisan display and a misuse of public funds.
Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz decried the event and "enormous waste of resources" on Twitter.
"Tanks on the streets...VIP access for donors at a July 4 event", the Democrat wrote. "There is nothing patriotic about any of that."
The National Park Service has issued a permit to feminist group Code Pink to stage a demonstration in the vicinity of the event on the day.
They plan to display an inflatable balloon depicting Mr Trump as a baby to protest against the "militarisation" of the US holiday.
But organisers were denied permission to use helium for the balloon to make it airborne.But organisers were denied permission to use helium for the balloon to make it airborne.
Reports that the White House has distributed VIP tickets to major donors and political appointees have stoked accusations that the event will be partisan rather than patriotic.
The Democratic National Committee has been given no tickets for the event.
This week, Mr Trump's re-election campaign reportedly sent out an email to some of its donors in the Washington area, encouraging supporters to attend the event.
Both the Republican National Committee and Mr Trump's campaign confirmed to US media they had received passes to hand out.
The Department of Defence said in a statement it had received 5,000 tickets from the White House.
It is unclear whether those without a ticket will be permitted into an area protected by Secret Service as the president delivers his speech.