Military chiefs have concerns about politicization of Trump's July 4th event

Military chiefs have concerns about the politicization of President Donald Trump's July 4 event, a source with direct knowledge told CNN.

Posted 2:02 p.m. Jul 3, 2019 — Updated 2:02 p.m. Jul 3, 2019

Jim Sciutto

, Chief National Security Correspondent

CNN — Military chiefs have concerns about the politicization of President Donald Trump's July 4 event, a source with direct knowledge told CNN.

In the planning for the event, they had reservations about putting tanks or other armored vehicles on display, the source said.

As the final details come together, several top military chiefs of the individual services are not attending and are sending alternates in their place, though some say they had prior plans. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, will attend.

CNN has reached to the Pentagon for comment.

Here is the list of attendees as provided by a senior US defense official:

Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper

Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer

Adm. Bob Burke, Vice Chief of Naval Operations

Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, Deputy Commandant of the US Marine Corps

Acting Air Force Secretary Matthew Donovan

Gen. Stephen Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force

Adm. Karl Schultz, US Coast Guard Commandant

This story is breaking and will be updated.

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