The Trump administration tried to get the Navy to use live 2,000-pound bombs instead of dummy bombs to mark the celebration of the Navy's 250th Anniversary, according to The Associated Press.
"Original planning for what the Navy dubbed the Titans of the Sea Presidential Review called for military personnel to use dummies and not live bombs, [one] person familiar with the Navy’s planning said," the report continued. "That person, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, would not comment on why the Navy decided to switch to live bombs."
The White House has denied there was ever a switch in the first place, saying that “Organizers always planned to use live munitions, as is typical in training exercises.” However, another source said that White House officials instructed the Navy that Trump “needed to see explosions” rather than just "a big splash" at the ceremony.
"The Navy and other military branches typically use dummy, or inert, bombs for training and demonstrations. Dummies are cheaper than live bombs because they do not contain expensive explosives, fuses and other components. They’re also safer," said the report. "However, military officials often argue that the use of live ammunition for events like the 250th birthday celebration also fulfills a training purpose and that the ordnance would have been expended anyway at a later date."
This comes after Trump had already drawn controversy for demanding an extensive military parade for himself earlier this year.
It also comes amid mounting outrage at the Trump administration's use of the military to eliminate suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, a massive departure from both international law and decades of American law enforcement procedure, and a practice some fear amounts to "war crimes."
