White House Pressured Navy to Use Live Bombs for Trump’s Military Spectacle Despite Risks

In a troubling display of political theater overriding prudent military standards, the White House reportedly pushed U.S. Navy officials to deploy live 2,000-pound bombs instead of inert dummy explosives during the Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration attended by President Donald Trump. Sources familiar with the planning revealed that White House aides demanded ‘explosions’ rather than merely a ‘big splash,’ forcing the Navy to alter its detailed operational protocols. When Political Pageantry Trumps Safety and Fiscal Responsibility This decision places American service members and local civilians at unnecessary risk. The use of live bombs—ordnance typically reserved for training or combat—is costly, laden...