It's not just tanks -- controversies surrounding Trump's 'Salute to America' fly high

Published 36 mins ago on July 3, 2019 By Matthew Rozsa, Salon



Runways at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in will be shut down for an hour and a half on the Fourth of July in order to accommodate a ceremonial flyover for President Donald Trump’s Independence Day event.

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“The launch point for the fireworks has been moved from the National Mall to a nearby park to accommodate Trump’s Lincoln Memorial display,” CNN’s Gregory Wallace reported. “The last such runway closure was in 2015 for a commemorative flight of World War II-era planes.”

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Micah Lillard, told officials they should “anticipate some flights at Reagan National to be affected during the late afternoon and evening.”

Trump has long shown a preference for flashy military displays during pageants associated with his presidency and political brand ever since he was impressed by a Bastille Day event in 2017. He reportedly requested that massive military tanks or other armored vehicles be stationed on the National Mall during his Fourth of July address. The requested tanks would include some vehicles that weigh 60 tons or more and others, which use tracks that could damage Washington’s roads. In addition to the flyover by military aircraft, Trump also wanted his “Salute to America” event to include a F-35 stealth fighter and Marine Helicopter Squadron One.

More:
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/07/its-not-just-tanks-controversies-surrounding-trumps-salute-to-america-fly-high/