![]() ![]() “It will have a different look than 2019 to ensure the health and safety of those attending,” said White House spokesperson Judd Deere. The White House has said it will take precautions this year to ensure public safety during July Fourth celebrations, although it has not provided details about what those measures would entail. Trump has promised a second Independence Day celebration in the nation’s capital this year despite an outcry from lawmakers concerned about the public health implications of holding a large event amid the coronavirus pandemic. Mitchell said this year’s flights are a “sunk cost,” adding “these aircraft and crews would be using these hours for proficiency and training at other locations if they were not conducting these flyovers.” The inclusion of military vehicles and Trump’s attendance at the Lincoln Memorial drove up costs. Last year’s celebration cost taxpayers more than $13 million, twice as much as previous celebrations, government watchdogs reported Thursday. It was not immediately clear why the administration decided to eliminate the static displays this year, but their exclusion will likely reduce cost and crowds on the national mall. ![]() ![]() Unlike last year, the July Fourth celebration will not include static displays on the mall of military ground equipment such as Bradley fighting vehicles, the two defense officials said. event included the F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, B-2 stealth bomber, V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters, Coast Guard aircraft and a presidential aircraft, either Air Force One or Marine One, said the defense official, who requested anonymity to discuss ongoing planning. In addition to the Thunderbirds, the request for the D.C. Last year’s festivities involved a Blue Angels flyover. This would mark the Thunderbirds’ first time participating in Trump’s “Salute to America” event. But another defense official said the request for the Washington, D.C., event included the Air Force’s Thunderbirds demonstration team, while the Navy’s Blue Angels will fly over Mount Rushmore on July 3. Mitchell would not confirm details of the flyovers, which will involve Defense Department and “heritage” aircraft. ![]()
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