B-2 stealth bomber roars overhead as Trump, Putin arrive at Alaska base; internet debates whether it was a show of honor or a veiled warning
Presidents Trump and Putin were greeted by a dramatic B-2 stealth bomber flyover, accompanied by F-22 Raptors, upon arrival in Alaska for a high-stakes summit. The display, featuring the B-2 known for its nuclear capabilities, sparked debate online, with some viewing it as a high honor and others as a provocative power play.
AP President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin talk, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) A dramatic flyover by a US B-2 stealth bomber, flanked by four F-22 Raptor fighters, greeted Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as they stepped off their planes at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, August 15. As per ABC, the Pentagon confirmed two B-2s had been flown into the base ahead of the high-stakes summit, the same aircraft type used in June's Operation Midnight Hammer to strike Iran's nuclear sites.
The scene, complete with a red carpet and F-22 Raptors lined along the tarmac, is the B-2's status as a symbol of US military might, capable of flying around the world without refueling and delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.
But the flyover sparked a split online. Some saw it as an extraordinary diplomatic salute. 'B-2 flyover is absolutely the highest honor. I cannot think of a visiting leader who got one of those in recent years,' posted a user, Old Lion, on X. Others called it provocative. 'Stupid provocation, likely breaking security protocol for summit. USA can't be trusted is the message,' wrote jjunio007.
'Was that a compliment or a warning?' wondered another, while one user summed up the other side of the argument: '0% power play, 100% honor.'Alaska Summit News First posted on X that, 'With jets flying overhead, Trump turns to Putin and says, 'This is for you.'The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber ranks among the most expensive aircraft ever made, with each unit costing over $2 billion when factoring in 1997 adjustments.According to Britannica, the development program for 21 aircraft totaled around $44 billion, and maintaining one costs roughly $40 million annually. By comparison, as per SlashGear, the F-22 Raptor, prized for its stealth and air-superiority capabilities, has a unit cost of about $143 million and annual operating costs exceeding $10 million per jet.
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