Trump wants D.C. military parade in June
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Trump is planning a military parade through Washington, D.C. on June 14, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Army's founding and his 79th birthday, D.C. city leaders say.
Why it matters: Trump wants to remake the nation's capital — and a military parade is one thing he never got in his first term.
The big picture: The Trump administration contacted Washington D.C. officials on Friday about the early planning for a parade, news of which was broken first by Washington City Paper on Sunday.
- Federal officials "reached out to our special events task force," Mayor Muriel Bowser told the press on Monday, but it's "at its early stages."
- The Secret Service contacted Arlington County on Friday about "the possibility of a military parade ... but no further details were offered," the county board chair Takis Karantonis told Axios in a statement.
What they're saying: "At this time, it is not clear to me what the scope of the parade would look be, but I would hope the Federal Government remains sensitive to the pain and concerns of numerous active military and veteran residents, who have lost or might lose their jobs in recent federal decisions, as they reflect on how best to celebrate the Army's anniversary," he added.
The route would stretch almost four miles starting at the Pentagon, crossing the Potomac River, and ending at the White House, reports City Paper.
Flashback: Trump got the idea for a military parade after attending France's Bastille Day parade in 2017.
- But Trump canceled plans in 2018 after costs soared to $92 million.
- City officials winced at the thought of heavy military equipment rolling on streets.
