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Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Battle tanks, 7,000 troops & WW2 planes … spotters guide to Trump's £30m birthday bash with 18-mile ring of steel
For years the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, but has failed to put up a working plan - until now DON STOP ME NOW Battle tanks, 7,000 troops & WW2 planes … spotters guide to Trump's £30m birthday bash with 18-mile ring of steel THOUSANDS of US troops flanked by battle tanks and advanced stealth jets will march on the streets as President Donald Trump kicks off a grand military parade - on his birthday. Patriotic tunes will fill the air in Washington DC as the commander in chief turns 79 - with the grand military spectacle set to commemorate the US Army's 250th anniversary. 12 Soldiers dressed in Revolutionary war-era uniforms charge during the US Army's Twilight Tattoo event Credit: AFP 12 Soldiers from the Marine Corps, lined up at the Veterans Day Parade in NYC 12 A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the US Army's 250th Birthday Celebration is seen near the US Capitol Credit: Reuters 12 US soldiers stand beside IAV Stryker armoured vehicles that are staged ahead of a 14 June military parade in Washington, DC Credit: EPA 12 The main stage for the US Army's 250th birthday celebration parade Credit: AFP 12 Trump turns 79 today Credit: AP The grandiose military parade will showcase soldiers, sailors, airmen and US Marines marching in their uniforms in front of thousands of spectators. As many as 7,000 troops and seven band contingents have reportedly been called to participate in the show. They will be accompanied by at least 150 military vehicles and some 50 aircraft. Some 2,000 civilians could also take march alongside the US military. READ MORE ON TRUMP ELON ROW Trump says he 'wasn't happy' with Elon Musk & reveals moment X boss turned on him And the whole celebration will be enclosed with an 18 mile ring of steel to protect the parade. Drones and a small army of cops will be on hand to keep order - with there expected to be protests across the country as part of "No Kings" day, a series of anti-Trump rallies by people objecting to the parade. It comes after a week of unrest in many cities - with anti-immigration raid riots in LA and protests against ICE across the US. June 14 this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army, also known as Army Day. The day also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. To celebrate both things in style, Trump planned to throw a military parade to showcase America's might. French President Emmanuel Macron joins 3,700 members of the military in Paris to mark Bastille Day, with guest Donald Trump For years, the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, but has failed to put up a working plan - until now. Plans are to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, and aircraft and missiles, just as Trump first envisioned the parade during his first term. The president, who is expected to give a speech during the parade, has pitched the occasion as a way to celebrate US power and service members' sacrifice. The parade will also showcase antics from different eras of the Army's history, right from the Revolutionary War in 1775 to the modern developments of the US Army. Contingent members are expected to wear corresponding uniforms and carry equipment respectively. Among the military equipment set to be flaunted are 26 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 27 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, two World War II Sherman tanks, a World War I-era Renault tank, eight CH-47 helicopters, 16 UH-60 Black Hawks and four WWII-era P-51 aircraft. While US officials have yet to release the cost of the planned parade, the figure is expected to reach up to a whopping $45million. This includes the cost of transporting all the military equipment across Washington and putting up safety measures for the public expected to gather at the parade. Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler said that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary. He added: 'We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us. 'We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. 12 12 12 A US soldier works atop an Abrams tank that is staged in West Potomac Park ahead of a 14 June military parade Credit: EPA 12 Tanks rest on the back of a rail car before being used for the parade Credit: AFP 12 US Army soldiers on top of an M1 Abrams tank during a media preview of the Army's Parade Credit: AFP 12 A US Park Police officer poses for a photograph next to a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the US Army's 250th Birthday Celebration Credit: Reuters "A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.' Trump appeared to tease the grand plan last month in a post on Truth Social, where he wrote: "We are going to start celebrating our victories again!' He also vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as 'Victory Day for World War II,' and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to 'Victory Day for World War I". Meanwhile, immigration rioters protesting against the Trump administration in LA could show up in Washington, experts fear. AMERICA'S 250th MAGA CELEBRATION By Sayan Bose, Foreign news reporter Trump is also planning a so-called Great American State Fair to celebrate the country's 250th birthday in 2026. Trump floated plans to showcase America's greatness in its true sense - packed in a year-long grand festival to mark the country's anniversary, dubbed the semiquincentennial, in a grand style that can be seen in the video above. Trump, who led his 2024 election campaign on the promise to make America great again, will take this opportunity to portray the country's might in the most patriotic way. It was just a year ago when he called all Americans to prepare for the Great American State Fair - a gigantic carnival of joy that would mark America's 250th birthday in true Trump fashion. Various contingents could take part in a grand parade in front of millions of people visiting the fair - and Trump could build a "National Garden of American Heroes' with statues of important figures in American history. This may include giant structures of George Washington, Neil Armstrong, and Muhammad Ali. Use our interactive map here to find out about what attractions could be at the mega MAGA event. But Trump warned protestors would be "met with very big force" if they attempted to sow chaos during the parade. He told reporters from the White House: "For those people that want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force." Law enforcement agencies are preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to attend Saturday's parade, US Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool revealed. McCool said thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies across the country. Iran's foreign ministry has described further discussions as "meaningless", after Israeli attacks on the country. In comments carried by state television, spokesman Esmail Baghaei said: "The US did a job that made the talks become meaningless." However, he stopped short of ruling out the talks. The Mizan news agency, run by Iran's judiciary, quoted him as saying it is still "not clear what we decide about Sunday talks".
The Irish Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Battle tanks, 7,000 troops & WW2 planes … spotters guide to Trump's £30m birthday bash with 18-mile ring of steel
THOUSANDS of US troops flanked by battle tanks and advanced stealth jets will march on the streets as President Donald Trump kicks off a grand military parade - on his birthday. Patriotic tunes will fill the air in Washington DC as the commander in chief turns 79 - with the Army 's 250th anniversary. 12 Soldiers dressed in Revolutionary war-era uniforms charge during the US Army's Twilight Tattoo event Credit: AFP 12 Soldiers from the Marine Corps, lined up at the Veterans Day Parade in NYC 12 A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the US Army's 250th Birthday Celebration is seen near the US Capitol Credit: Reuters 12 US soldiers stand beside IAV Stryker armoured vehicles that are staged ahead of a 14 June military parade in Washington, DC Credit: EPA 12 The main stage for the US Army's 250th birthday celebration parade Credit: AFP 12 Trump turns 79 today Credit: AP The grandiose military parade will showcase As many as 7,000 troops and seven band contingents have reportedly been called to participate in the show. They will be accompanied by at least 150 military vehicles and some 50 aircraft. Some 2,000 civilians could also take march alongside the US military. READ MORE ON TRUMP And the whole celebration will be enclosed with an 18 mile ring of steel to protect the parade. Drones and a small army of cops will be on hand to keep order - with there expected to be protests across the country as part of "No Kings" day, a series of anti-Trump rallies by people objecting to the parade. It comes after a week of unrest in many cities - with June 14 this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army, also known as Army Day. Most read in The US Sun The day also coincides with Trump 's 79th birthday. To celebrate both things in style, Trump planned to throw a military parade to showcase America's might. French President Emmanuel Macron joins 3,700 members of the military in Paris to mark Bastille Day, with guest Donald Trump For years, the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, but has failed to put up a working plan - until now. Plans are to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, and aircraft and missiles, just as Trump first envisioned the parade during his first term. The president, who is expected to give a speech during the parade, has pitched the occasion as a way to celebrate US power and service members' sacrifice. The parade will also showcase antics from different eras of the Army's history, right from the Revolutionary War in 1775 to the modern developments of the US Army. Contingent members are expected to wear corresponding uniforms and carry equipment respectively. Among the military equipment set to be flaunted are 26 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 27 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, two World War II Sherman tanks, a World War I-era Renault tank, eight CH-47 helicopters, 16 UH-60 Black Hawks and four WWII-era P-51 aircraft. While US officials have yet to release the cost of the planned parade, the figure is expected to reach up to a whopping $45million. This includes the cost of transporting all the military equipment across Washington and putting up safety measures for the public expected to gather at the parade. Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler said that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary. He added: 'We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us. 'We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. 12 12 12 A US soldier works atop an Abrams tank that is staged in West Potomac Park ahead of a 14 June military parade Credit: EPA 12 Tanks rest on the back of a rail car before being used for the parade Credit: AFP 12 US Army soldiers on top of an M1 Abrams tank during a media preview of the Army's Parade Credit: AFP 12 A US Park Police officer poses for a photograph next to a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the US Army's 250th Birthday Celebration Credit: Reuters "A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.' Trump appeared to tease the grand plan last month in a post on Truth Social, where he wrote: "We are going to start celebrating our victories again!' He also vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as 'Victory Day for World War II,' and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to 'Victory Day for World War I". Meanwhile, immigration rioters protesting against the Trump administration in LA could show up in Washington, experts fear. AMERICA'S 250th MAGA CELEBRATION By Sayan Bose, Foreign news reporter Trump is also planning a Trump floated plans to showcase America's greatness in its true sense - packed in a year-long grand festival to mark the country's anniversary, dubbed the semiquincentennial, in a grand style that can be seen in the video above. Trump, who led his 2024 election campaign on the promise to make America great again, will take this opportunity to portray the country's might in the most patriotic way. It was just a year ago when he called all Americans to prepare for the Great American State Fair - a gigantic carnival of joy that would mark America's 250th birthday in true Trump fashion. Various contingents could take part in a grand parade in front of millions of people visiting the fair - and Trump could build a "National Garden of American Heroes' with statues of important figures in American history. This may include giant structures of George Washington, Neil Armstrong, and Muhammad Ali. Use our But Trump warned protestors would be "met with very big force" if they attempted to sow chaos during the parade. He told reporters from the White House: "For those people that want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force." Law enforcement agencies are preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to attend Saturday's parade, US Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool revealed. McCool said thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies across the country. Iran's foreign ministry has described further discussions as "meaningless", after Israeli attacks on the country. In comments carried by state television, spokesman Esmail Baghaei said: "The US did a job that made the talks become meaningless." However, he stopped short of ruling out the talks. The Mizan news agency, run by Iran's judiciary, quoted him as saying it is still "not clear what we decide about Sunday talks".
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Veterans are divided over the US Army's historic military parade being held on President Trump's birthday
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — James McDonough served in the U.S. Army for 27 years, fighting in Vietnam and delivering humanitarian aid to Rwanda. For him, Saturday's military parade in Washington for the Army's 250th anniversary — coinciding with President Donald Trump's birthday — is about the resilience of a vital institution and the nation it serves. 13 U.S. Army veteran James McDonough. AP 13 A U.S. Army reviewing stand being built in front of the White House prior to the annual celebration. Getty Images Advertisement 'The soldiers marching that day represent all of that history,' said McDonough, 78, of Crofton, Maryland. 'They don't represent a single day. They don't represent a single person. It's the American Army still standing straight, walking tall, ready to defend our country.' Christopher Purdy, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, called the parade a facade that paints over some of the Republican president's policies that have targeted military veterans and current service members, including cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a ban on transgender troops. 13 Army veteran Christopher Purdy disapproves of the celebration being held on the President's birthday. AP Advertisement Purdy said the parade, long sought by Trump, will needlessly display U.S. military might on the president's 79th birthday. 'It's embarrassing,' said Purdy, 40, of Atlanta. 'It's expensive. And whatever his reasons are for doing it, I think it's entirely unnecessary.' 13 A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the U.S. Army's 250th Birthday Celebration and Parade, is seen near U.S. Capitol. REUTERS Until recently, the Army's long-planned birthday celebration did not include a big parade. Added under the Trump administration, the event, featuring hundreds of military vehicles and aircraft and thousands of soldiers, has divided veterans. Advertisement Some liken it to the military chest-pounding commonly seen in North Korea, a step toward authoritarianism or a perverse birthday party for Trump. Others see it as a once-in-a-lifetime accounting of the Army's achievements and the military service of millions of soldiers over centuries. The parade is not about Trump, they say, but the public seeing the faces of soldiers when so few Americans serve. 13 A U.S. Army soldier walks past Bradley fighting vehicle staged in West Potomac Park ahead of an upcoming military parade. AP 13 The change in typical veterans day celebrations has divided veteran opinions about the date coinciding with the president's 79th birthday. Getty Images Advertisement 13 Some see it as a perverse birthday party, other see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. AP The Army expects up to 200,000 people could attend and says the parade will cost an estimated $25 million to $45 million. Trump, speaking at Fort Bragg this week, said Saturday would be 'a big day' and noted 'we want to show off a little bit.' 'We're going to celebrate our greatness and our achievements,' he said. 'This week, we honor 250 years of valor and glory and triumph by the greatest fighting force ever to walk the face of the Earth: the United States Army.' 'Divisive politics have ruined it' For Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr., an Army veteran who fought in Iraq, the parade is a missed opportunity to honor generations of veterans, many of whom paid a steep price and came home to little fanfare. 'Sadly, the timing and the optics and divisive politics have ruined it,' said Martinez, 48, of Katy, Texas. 'And I'm not picking one side or the other. Both sides are guilty.' 13 Ex-marine Joe Plenzer is suspicious of the date. AP 'It's just suspicious' Joe Plenzler, a retired Marine who fought in Iraq, said Trump wants to see troops saluting him on his birthday as tanks roll past. Advertisement 'It's just suspicious,' the 53-year-old from Middletown, Virginia, said of the timing. 'I absolutely love the Army from the bottom of my cold black Marine heart,' he said. 'But if the Army's birthday was a day later, we probably wouldn't be doing it. I'd rather see that $50 million take care of the men and women who went off to war and came back with missing arms, legs and eyeballs, and with damaged brains.' 'Part of American culture' Joe Kmiech, who served in the Army and Minnesota National Guard from 1989 to 1998, supports the parade because the Army is 'part of American culture and our fabric.' He notes the Army's pioneering contributions to engineering and medicine, from dams to new surgical techniques. Like many veterans, he has a strong familial connection: His father served in the Army, and so did his maternal grandfather, who fought in World War II. Advertisement 'I didn't vote for President Trump, but the commander in chief is going to be part of that celebration,' said Kmiech, 54, of Roberts, Wisconsin. 'The distinction needs to be made that the parade is a celebration of our Army, not of a person.' 13 Army and National Guard Veteran Joe Kmiech wants people to remember the true meaning of the celebration. AP 'Stroking Trump's ego' For Gulf War Army veteran Paul Sullivan, Trump and the parade are inextricably linked. 'This Trump tank travesty is all about stroking Trump's ego,' said Sullivan, 62, who lives outside Charlottesville, Virginia. 'If Trump truly cared about our service members, he would sit down with them quietly and say, 'What can we do with $50 million or $100 million to make your lives better?' He's not.' Advertisement 13 U.S. Army veteran Paul Sullivan. AP 'We are a great nation' McDonough, the veteran from Crofton, Maryland, disagrees that the parade is about Trump or too costly. He said the U.S. held a grand celebration in New York after World War II when the nation was deeply in debt. 'We certainly need to bring our debt down, and we certainly need to take care of our veterans,' he said. 'But it's a false dichotomy. It's like saying if we bought two less aircraft carriers, we could do so much better to take care of our poor.' And McDonough said soldiers' oath is to the Constitution, not to Trump. Advertisement The president 'understands the importance of doing this, not only for the Army, but for the nation,' McDonough said. 13 James Mcdonough believes the most important thing is taking 'care of our veterans.' AP 13 McDonough wears a 173rd Airborne Brigade hat. AP 'A real dark turn' Purdy, the veteran from Atlanta, said the parade's brazen flex of military strength is not an American tradition, particularly absent a recent victory. 'I'm not saying we shouldn't celebrate the country,' he said. 'But for us to be projecting this type of hard power, in such a real in-your-face way, that's just not who we are.' Trump is brushing aside old alliances and foreign aid that have helped maintain peace for decades, Purdy asserted. 'It signals a real dark turn if we're just going to roll out the tanks,' Purdy said. 13 Michael Nardotti sees no issue with the correlating dates. AP 'People are the Army' Michael Nardotti, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, said military hardware has long been in American parades, which can help recruitment. More important, he said, is the tremendous value in the public seeing soldiers' faces in a parade when active-duty troops make up less than 1% of the population. ''People are the Army,'' said Nardotti, 78, of Aldie, Virginia, quoting a former Army chief of staff. Nardotti said he'll listen carefully to Trump's speech. 'I hope it sends the right message,' he said.
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- General
- Newsweek
How Many US Plane Crashes Have There Been in 2025? Updated List
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A military aircraft crash reported Thursday morning at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia has added urgency to questions about the rising number of U.S. aviation incidents in 2025. The April 24 crash may be the latest in a growing list of accidents tracked by federal safety agencies. In an emailed statement, an NTSB public affairs specialist said the agency is investigating a crash of an experimental MX Aircraft MXS near Hampton, Virginia, and preliminary information indicates the plane crashed on approach to Langley Air Force Base "under unknown circumstances." No immediate information about casualties or the cause was released. But the Langley crash follows a year already marked by several high-profile incidents, including a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., in January. File Photo: Search and rescue crews search for debris after an American Airlines passenger jet had crashed into a military helicopter while landing in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2025. The crash was one deadly... File Photo: Search and rescue crews search for debris after an American Airlines passenger jet had crashed into a military helicopter while landing in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2025. The crash was one deadly aviation accident this year. More mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX Why It Matters Aviation data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have compiled dozens of incidents in just the first four months of the year. Among the most serious crashes this year was the January 29 collision involving a commercial jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River. The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk during its approach to Reagan Washington National Airport. All 13 people aboard both aircraft were killed. That January collision was the deadliest U.S. plane crash since 2001, when a jet crashed into a New York City neighborhood shortly after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground. How Many Crashes Have There Been in 2025 Thus Far? The NTSB logged 250 aviation incidents and accidents across the United States from January 1 to April 24, 2025. Of those incidents, approximately 215 were fatal. Through April 24, 2025, the NTSB logged 182 airplane-exclusive incidents and accidents across the United States. How Many Aviation Crashes Were There in 2024? NTSB data shows that throughout 2024, there were 1,199 aviation incidents and accidents, 180 of which were fatal. What's Next Investigators from the Air Force and the NTSB are expected to release preliminary findings on the Langley Air Force Base crash within 30 days. Meanwhile, federal agencies will continue compiling and reviewing accident data to determine if the 2025 uptick signals broader systemic issues.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FAA investigating after 'green laser' flashed at Black Hawk helicopter
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after the crew of a National Guard Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter reported being "illuminated" by a green laser about two miles from Hector International Airport in North Dakota. FAA officials said the incident happened at about 9 p.m. local time on Thursday. No injuries were reported, according to the agency. Faa 'Permanently Restricting' Washington Helicopter Traffic After Fatal Midair Collision Near Dc Airport The Army confirmed to Fox News Digital the aircraft was being operated by the National Guard. FAA officials notified local authorities and will investigate. Read On The Fox News App The incident comes just more than a week after a tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 10, killing six people — including a pilot, two other adults and three children. 6 Dead, Including 3 Children, After Helicopter Plummets Into Hudson River Elsewwere, in January, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with a passenger plane over the Potomac River during an Army "flight check," killing 67 people. There were no survivors. Since then, the FAA said it was "taking a series of steps" to improve safety near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Officials said they identified more than 15,000 instances of planes being alerted about helicopters in proximity between October 2021 and December 2024. Ohio State Highway Patrol Investigating Small Plane Crash, Pilot Dead The FAA announced in March it was permanently restricting non-essential helicopter operations around DCA, eliminating helicopter and fixed-wing mixed traffic, and permanently closing certain helicopter routes as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. Simultaneous use of certain runways was also prohibited, and the use of visual separation was limited to certain Coast Guard, Marines and Park Police helicopter operations outside restricted airspace. The National Guard did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: FAA investigating after 'green laser' flashed at Black Hawk helicopter
