Donald Trump loves to put on a good American holiday party. He’s pulling out all the stops this July 4th.
Because the President has invited extremely special guests for his big White House party.
Trump to Honor Pilots of Iran Nuclear Strikes at White House Fourth of July Event
The Trump administration announced Monday that the U.S. Air Force pilots who led the recent bombing mission on Iranian nuclear facilities will join President Donald Trump to celebrate the Fourth of July at the White House, marking a high-profile recognition of their role in a critical national security operation.
Earlier this month, U.S. forces conducted precision strikes that destroyed three Iranian nuclear facilities, a move the administration says was essential to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The operation, executed with advanced stealth bombers, was hailed by the White House as a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Iran retaliated last week by attacking a U.S. base in Qatar, but no further escalations have occurred since, signaling a pause in hostilities.
President Trump first hinted at the pilots’ White House visit during a Sunday interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, revealing that the seven bombers involved in the mission would be his guests. He did not specify at the time that the event would coincide with the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the details, stating that the pilots, along with additional personnel from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where the bombers are stationed, will attend the Fourth of July event. The announcement was first reported by CBS News.
“President Trump looks forward to celebrating our nation’s founding on Friday in the nation’s capital,” Leavitt said in a statement. “To join in the celebration, the might of America’s Air Force will conduct a flyover featuring our state-of-the-art F-22s, B-2s, and F-35s – the same air capabilities used for the decisive and successful strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.”
The invitation follows sharp criticism from the Trump administration toward certain media outlets over their coverage of the Iran operation. The president has repeatedly taken aim at The New York Times and CNN, particularly for a preliminary report suggesting the bombings only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. Trump has emphasized that the report lacked confidence in its findings and failed to acknowledge the operation’s success in neutralizing Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
In a pointed critique, Trump called for the dismissal of a CNN reporter whose coverage he deemed unfairly negative. “She should not be allowed to work at Fake News CNN. It’s people like her who destroyed the reputation of a once great Network,” he wrote on Truth Social last week.
The president also expressed concern for the pilots, claiming the negative media coverage diminished their historic achievement. “After 36 hours of dangerously flying through Enemy Territory, they landed, they knew the Success was LEGENDARY, and then, two days later, they started reading Fake News by CNN and The Failing New York Times. They felt terribly,” Trump posted.
The White House event will serve as a public show of support for the pilots and the U.S. military, whose advanced technology and precision were showcased in the strikes. The planned flyover, featuring F-22 Raptors, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, and F-35 Lightning II jets, will highlight the same aircraft used in the mission, reinforcing the administration’s focus on military strength.
Trump has remained steadfast in his stance on Iran, signaling readiness to take further action if necessary. During a White House press briefing, when asked by the BBC’s Nomia Iqbal whether he would consider additional strikes, Trump responded, “absolutely,” adding he would “without question” attack if intelligence indicated Iran was advancing its uranium enrichment to dangerous levels.
The U.S. became directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict last weekend, deploying “bunker buster” bombs to target key nuclear sites. Trump quickly pushed for a ceasefire following the strikes, aiming to de-escalate tensions while maintaining pressure on Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed in a Thursday speech that the U.S. and Israeli strikes had no significant impact on Iran’s nuclear program. However, Trump countered on Friday, asserting that Iran’s nuclear sites had been “obliterated.” Reports indicate Khamenei was forced into hiding during the two-week conflict with Israel, highlighting the intensity of the situation.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later acknowledged “excessive and serious” damage to the country’s nuclear infrastructure, contradicting Khamenei’s claims. The admission lends credence to the Trump administration’s narrative that the strikes achieved their objective.
Despite all parties in the conflict claiming victory, the White House has maintained that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “decimated” by the operation. Trump reiterated this point in response to Khamenei’s remarks, emphasizing the mission’s success in halting Iran’s nuclear progress.
The Fourth of July event, set against the backdrop of this high-stakes military operation, will likely serve as a moment for the Trump administration to celebrate both national pride and its assertive foreign policy.
