Overview
- Associated Press reporting, citing two people familiar with planning, says White House officials urged the Navy to swap practice ordnance for live 900‑kilogram bombs so President Trump would see full explosions at the Oct. 5 Norfolk review.
- A third planning source said dummy bombs were initially expected, while the White House publicly denied any change and stated live munitions were planned from the outset, according to deputy press secretary Anna Kelly.
- The Navy initially declined to comment, and coverage noted that using live weapons for a public demonstration would require expanded safety zones and other risk mitigations.
- In a separate Oct. 18 Marine Corps event at Camp Pendleton, a misfire sent shrapnel onto Interstate 5 and damaged two California Highway Patrol vehicles without causing injuries.
- Twenty‑seven members of California’s House delegation and the state’s two senators asked Hegseth to detail who approved live fire over a highway and what safeguards were in place, with some lawmakers calling for a full investigation.