The White House pressed US Navy officials to launch live bombs weighing some 900 kg instead of dummy explosives during a military celebration attended by President Donald Trump, according to sources.

One person familiar with the planning for the Navy's 250th anniversary, said White House officials insisted to organisers that Trump "needed to see explosions" instead of just a "big splash" during the October 5 demonstration.

Original planning for what the Navy dubbed the Titans of the Sea Presidential Review called for military personnel to use dummies and not live bombs, another person told AP.

That person would not comment on why the Navy then decided to switch to live bombs.

In a statement, White House Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said organisers always planned to use live muniti

See Full Page