President Donald Trump's plans to host a military parade on US Independence Day this week have left critics seeing red, rather than red, white and blue.

At his "Salute to America" on Thursday, Mr Trump will address the nation from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC amid a parade of military tanks.

But city officials have expressed dismay at the possible damage to roads at the 4 July event.

A congressman dismissed the celebration as a presidential vanity project.

"We're going to have planes going overhead - the best fighter jets in the world and other planes too," the Republican president told reporters at the White House on Monday.

"And we're going to have some tanks stationed outside."

He said the event will "be like no other, it'll be special".

City leaders have spoken out against the idea.

"We have said it before, and we'll say it again: Tanks, but no tanks," the District of Columbia council tweeted on Monday.

The Democratic-controlled council also posted guidance from the Defence Department about a veterans' event in November last year, specifying that "no tanks" should be used in order to "avoid damage to local infrastructure".

Mr Trump has ordered a flyover by the Navy's Blue Angels and the presidential jet Air Force One, the Washington Post reported.

He also wants the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines standing next to him during the display, according to the New York Times.

The military flyover will halt air traffic at the US capital city's main airport, Reagan National, for more than two hours on Thursday evening.

BBC