By Sharon Marris, news reporter

The US is preparing for an Independence Day parade that Donald Trump promises will be an "incredible" display from the "strongest military anywhere in the world".

The scale of the 4 July "Salute To America" event will be relatively new for a country that has traditionally not held such massive military parades on the streets.

Mr Trump's determination to throw such an event in the US came after he saw the Bastille Day parade in Paris two years ago.

Image: The parade will include a speech by the president, Donald Trump

Initial plans were scrapped due to the cost, objections from local officials in Washington DC and reluctance from then defence secretary Jim Mattis. But Mr Trump never quite gave up on the dream.

On Thursday, the US capital will find itself home to a massive military arsenal set to include:

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  • An Air Force B-2 stealth bomber
  • Navy F-35 and F-18 fighter jets
  • The Navy Blue Angels aerial acrobatics team
  • Army and coast guard helicopters
  • Marine V-22 Ospreys
  • Bradley fighting vehicles
  • 60 tonne Army Abrams battle tanks
  • The presidential Air Force One and Marine One aircraft
Event workers arrive at the Lincoln Memorial ahead of Thursday's July Fourth Salute to America celebration, on July 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump will deliver a speech at the memorial with military hardware on display including tanks, and flyovers by military aircraft
Image: Preparation has started for the Salute To America parade

Mr Trump insisted military leaders were "thrilled" to be part of the event, writing on Twitter that they would be "showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced military anywhere in the world. Incredible flyovers and biggest ever fireworks!"

Pentagon officials appeared to be hiding their enthusiasm well, referring parade-related questions to the White House and declining to confirm whether General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, would attend.

U.S President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron attend the traditional Bastille day military parade on the Champs-Elysees on July 14, 2017 in Paris France. Bastille Day, the French National day commemorates this year the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United States of America into World War I
Image: Donald Trump has been keen on a military parade since his 2017 visit to Paris
Alpha jets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France fly over the Champs-Elysees avenue during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France, July 14, 2017
Image: The Bastille Day parade is a major event in Paris

Retired marine colonel David Lapan, a former senior spokesman at the Pentagon, said troops should be allowed to enjoy the holiday instead of being paraded.

"After 18-plus years of war, we have asked a lot of our military and their families, and they have sacrificed. Let's give them a day off rather than a day on for this holiday," he said.

The Pentagon has not released the cost of the parade but Mr Trump has his own cost prediction: "Read More – Source

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Sky News

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