On Friday, July 4th, the United States celebrated its Independence Day, marking the 249th anniversary of the country’s founding. President Trump praised the U.S. military operation known as the “Midnight Hammer” during the White House National Day celebration. Last month, a coordinated strike involving B-2 stealth bombers and fighter jets targeted and destroyed three nuclear facilities in Iran.
In the evening on Friday, President Trump and First Lady Melania appeared on the balcony of the Blue Room at the White House to attend a picnic for military families. Prior to Trump’s praise of the “Midnight Hammer” operation as “flawlessly executed,” a B-2 bomber and two F-35 fighter jets flew over the White House and National Mall.
“You see those beautiful planes up there, totally invisible,” President Trump addressed the crowd at the celebration, “They flew right over the heart of a hostile nation, and (Iran) had no idea they were coming. And then they (B-2 crew) dropped the bombs.”
“Later, that huge invisible bomber just rolled over and then flew away,” he added. Trump was referring to the B-2 stealth bomber.
Trump also criticized the “fake news” media. “Every bomb hit its target, resulting in complete destruction,” the President stated, “Even the fake news now acknowledges this. They don’t want to admit it, but they have no choice.”
The White House invited the B-2 bomber crew members who executed the “Midnight Hammer” airstrike to join the Independence Day celebration.
“These brave pilots have shown our enemies the meaning of flight, combat, and victory,” President Trump said.
“To every soldier who supported this mission, of which we have many here, your support makes us proud, but it is your brave piloting of these exceptional military aircraft, flying over the most dangerous airspace in the world, that makes us prouder. We salute you, we salute you,” the President expressed.
Trump revealed in an interview on the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures” aired last Sunday, “Yes, they (the B-2 pilots involved in the Midnight Hammer mission) are coming to the White House. These individuals flew in a confined space for 36 hours, with a large aircraft in a small space mostly occupied by bombs, yet they flew so brilliantly.”
The Pentagon recently concluded that the “Midnight Hammer” mission caused “extremely severe damage” to three nuclear facilities in Iran, resulting in a delay of one to two years in Iran’s nuclear program.