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| Trump set for 4th of July 'show of a lifetime' | Trump set for 4th of July 'show of a lifetime' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump is preparing to address an Independence Day military parade event in Washington DC that he promises will be the "show of a lifetime". | Donald Trump is preparing to address an Independence Day military parade event in Washington DC that he promises will be the "show of a lifetime". |
| Thousands of troops are being assembled at a red-, white- and blue-draped Lincoln Memorial to hear the first such speech by a president since 1951. | Thousands of troops are being assembled at a red-, white- and blue-draped Lincoln Memorial to hear the first such speech by a president since 1951. |
| Armoured carriers and tanks are part of the "Salute to America" backdrop. | Armoured carriers and tanks are part of the "Salute to America" backdrop. |
| Opponents accuse him of politicising the holiday ahead of a re-election campaign and wasting taxpayer's money. | Opponents accuse him of politicising the holiday ahead of a re-election campaign and wasting taxpayer's money. |
| The Pentagon has not revealed the cost of the extravaganza, which many believe was inspired by Mr Trump's visit to the Bastille Day parade hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. | The Pentagon has not revealed the cost of the extravaganza, which many believe was inspired by Mr Trump's visit to the Bastille Day parade hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. |
| Some reports say the National Park Service is diverting nearly $2.5m (£2m) to cover the cost. | Some reports say the National Park Service is diverting nearly $2.5m (£2m) to cover the cost. |
| What will happen? | What will happen? |
| As well as tanks, Mr Trump's 4 July celebration will also feature a military jet flyover and an extended fireworks show. | As well as tanks, Mr Trump's 4 July celebration will also feature a military jet flyover and an extended fireworks show. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The two 70-tonne Abrams tanks have to stay on a side road as they are too heavy for the memorial's surrounding areas. | The two 70-tonne Abrams tanks have to stay on a side road as they are too heavy for the memorial's surrounding areas. |
| In a morning tweet, Mr Trump said the parade was "turning out to be one of the biggest celebrations in the history of our Country". | In a morning tweet, Mr Trump said the parade was "turning out to be one of the biggest celebrations in the history of our Country". |
| He will be keeping a keen eye on the turnout, given the arguments over the claimed attendance of his inauguration ceremony back in 2017. | He will be keeping a keen eye on the turnout, given the arguments over the claimed attendance of his inauguration ceremony back in 2017. |
| A couple of hours before kick off there was heavy rain falling on the National Mall, which may not help. Thunderstorms could also affect the flyovers. | |
| The event will be open to the public free of charge, apart from a ticketed area for VIPs in front of the memorial. | The event will be open to the public free of charge, apart from a ticketed area for VIPs in front of the memorial. |
| Large numbers of Trump supporters wearing Make American Great Again hats - and opponents upset at the cost - have been descending on the capital. | Large numbers of Trump supporters wearing Make American Great Again hats - and opponents upset at the cost - have been descending on the capital. |
| Trump supporter Brandon Lawrence told Reuters: "I think what Trump's doing with the tanks, all the flyovers, I think it's great." | Trump supporter Brandon Lawrence told Reuters: "I think what Trump's doing with the tanks, all the flyovers, I think it's great." |
| Critic Medea Benjamin said: "This is costing us millions and millions of dollars. We the taxpayers are paying for it, for Donald Trump to use our military as a prop." | Critic Medea Benjamin said: "This is costing us millions and millions of dollars. We the taxpayers are paying for it, for Donald Trump to use our military as a prop." |
| The musical playlist includes the Star Wars theme and Hail to the Chief. | The musical playlist includes the Star Wars theme and Hail to the Chief. |
| The speech is at 18:30 local time (22:30 GMT). | The speech is at 18:30 local time (22:30 GMT). |
| The event has been largely good-humoured so far, although there were scuffles outside the White House after a flag-burning protest. | |
| Who's invited? | Who's invited? |
| Mr Trump will be joined by a Pentagon delegation led by the highest-ranking US military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford. | Mr Trump will be joined 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. | But the service chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps will not attend. |
| The defence department said in a statement it had received 5,000 tickets from the White House. | The defence department said in a statement it had received 5,000 tickets from the White House. |
| The White House has also distributed VIP tickets to major donors and political appointees, amid reported concerns that empty seats might be visible. | The White House has also distributed VIP tickets to major donors and political appointees, amid reported concerns that empty seats might be visible. |
| Mr Trump's re-election campaign sent out an email this week encouraging supporters to attend the event. But the Democratic National Committee has been given no tickets. | Mr Trump's re-election campaign sent out an email this week encouraging supporters to attend the event. But the Democratic National Committee has been given no tickets. |
| And the cost? | And the cost? |
| Mr Trump said in a tweet that the expense "will be very little compared to what it is worth". | Mr Trump said in a tweet that the expense "will be very little compared to what it is worth". |
| Military flyovers alone cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour. | 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'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. |
| What have opponents said? | What have opponents said? |
| They see it as an inappropriately partisan display and a misuse of public funds. | They see it as an inappropriately partisan display and a misuse of public funds. |
| US presidential contender Joe Biden and two other Democratic candidates marched instead in Iowa, which kicks off the nomination race in seven months' time. | US presidential contender Joe Biden and two other Democratic candidates marched instead in Iowa, which kicks off the nomination race in seven months' time. |
| Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter: "This is what authoritarians do: Donald Trump is taking $2.5 million away from our National Park Service to glorify himself with a spectacle of military tanks rolling through Washington." | Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter: "This is what authoritarians do: Donald Trump is taking $2.5 million away from our National Park Service to glorify himself with a spectacle of military tanks rolling through Washington." |
| Protesters have brought along an inflatable balloon depicting Mr Trump as a baby but have been denied permission to use helium to make it airborne. | Protesters have brought along an inflatable balloon depicting Mr Trump as a baby but have been denied permission to use helium to make it airborne. |
| Harry Truman was the last president to speak before a large crowd on the Washington Monument - in 1951. | Harry Truman was the last president to speak before a large crowd on the Washington Monument - in 1951. |