In a dramatic and controversial gesture, US President Donald Trump made headlines during a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on 15 August 2025. While the official agenda was to discuss peace efforts amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the meeting began with an unexpected and provocative show of military might.
Shortly after Putin’s arrival, a US B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, escorted by four F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, flew at low altitude over the airport. The manoeuvre, widely interpreted as a deliberate show of force, quickly went viral on social media. A video clip shared on Twitter captured the moment, with one user remarking, “Trump just flew a B-2 stealth bomber over Putin’s head… Absolutely incredible.”
The flyover was not an isolated demonstration. It followed a recent military operation on 21 June, where US forces launched a missile strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Pentagon, via Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, confirmed the mission—codenamed “Midnight Hammer”—was executed using B-2 bombers. These aircraft completed a 36-hour round-trip mission from Missouri to Iran and back, relying on mid-air refuelling to remain undetected.
The B-2 Spirit, known for its stealth and long-range capabilities, is also the most expensive military aircraft ever built. With a price tag exceeding £1.6 billion per unit, it is capable of deploying 13,600-kilogram “bunker buster” bombs. In addition to the B-2 and F-35s, two F-22 Raptors were also positioned near the red carpet area during Putin’s arrival, further emphasising the US’s advanced military technology.
Despite the spectacle, it remains unclear whether Trump personally ordered the flyover or if it was a pre-planned military protocol. Nonetheless, the gesture cast a long shadow over the summit’s diplomatic aims. The meeting proceeded with Trump’s signature firm handshake and closed-door discussions about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the opening act left a lasting impression on global observers.
