Donald Trump unveils plans for the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels to conduct nationwide air shows to hail coronavirus ‘warriors’ and to repeat his July 4 ‘salute to America’ on the National Mall – with crowd six feet apart
- President Trump announced Wednesday that the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels would be touring the United States
- The two military aerobatics teams would perform on behalf of the country’s frontline works who are combating the coronavirus
- Trump also said he planned to have another ‘Salute to America’ event this Fourth of July, though the crowd would be smaller to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak
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President Trump revealed Wednesday that he wanted some pomp and circumstance added to the country’s current socially distanced circumstances, and has recruited the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels to do the job.
Trump said at Wednesday’s press briefing that the two prominent aerobatics teams ‘will be performing air shows over America’s cities,’ and in some places that ‘aren’t major cities,’ he added, in a salute to the country’s frontline workers who have been combating the coronavirus pandemic.
‘This is a tribute to them, our warriors,’ the president said.
President Trump announced Wednesday that the Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds would be performing in air shows around the country to salute the work of the coronavirus frontline workers
Last year President Trump, holding the hand of first lady Melania Trump, started a new tradition by presenting the country with a ‘Salute to America’ on the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial
The event featured flyovers including from the Blue Angels (pictures), which are about to tour the country giving air shows while most Americans are still having to stay at home thanks to the coronavirus pandemic
The Air Force Thunderbirds, seen flying over the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, will also particpate in the air shows, which will take place in the next few weeks
While the president said he planned to host another ‘Salute to America’ he said this year’s event would only have about 25 per cent of the crowd so they could stay spaced out to avoid a coronavirus outbreak
Trump called the aerial performances ‘dangerous flying.’
‘That’s dangerous work,’ he said.
The president also said that he planned to celebrate the Fourth of July by hosting another large event on the National Mall, complete with military flyovers.
Last year, Trump added to the annaul fireworks display and concert by taking over the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial for his own show, the ‘Salute to America.’
Trump gave patriotic remarks and hosted a flyover.
Air Force One, the next generation of Marine One, the Blue Angels and other military planes all participated.
The president talked up last year’s event ‘even though it was pouring.’
‘And on July 4 we’ll be doing what we had on the Mall. Last year was a tremendous success,’ Trump said.
He added that he hoped that the tradition would endure beyond his presidency.
‘And I would imagine we’ll do it – hopefully I can use the term forever,’ he said.
Later in the briefing the president was asked if holding a crowded event on the National Mall would be safe, given that the country may still be experiencing outbreaks of coronavirus.
Trump answered that he’d just have the crowd stay spaced out.
‘We’ll probably have 25 per cent of what we had last year,’ the president said.