Trump hails US military in 4th of July address

President Donald Trump has hailed the "brave men and women" of the US military during a speech at a controversial Independence Day event.

"We celebrate our history, our people, and the heroes who proudly defend our flag," he told a crowd at a rain-soaked Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

The "Salute to America" event featured military flyovers and fireworks.

Opponents accused Mr Trump of wasting money and politicising the holiday ahead of his re-election campaign.

The Pentagon has not revealed the cost of the extravaganza, which many believe was inspired by Mr Trump's visit to a Bastille Day parade hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017.

Some reports say the National Park Service diverted nearly $2.5m (£2m) to cover the cost.

Addressing a crowd that had braved torrential rain and high temperatures, Mr Trump paid homage to the military before introducing separate flyovers for each branch.

He spoke about America's battle for independence and praised the "extraordinary heritage" of the country.

"Together we are part of one of the greatest stories ever told, the story of America," Mr Trump said at the event. Chants of "USA, USA" broke out sporadically as he spoke.