It might rain on President Trump's military parade tomorrow, so the Army is considering precautions in case there's lightning.

The big picture: "Rain won't stop us, the tanks don't melt, but if there's lightning then that puts the crowd at risk," Army spokesperson Steve Warren yesterday told the English newspaper The Times. "If there's lightning they will disperse the crowd and even cancel or postpone the parade."

• Showers and a potential thunderstorm are in the evening forecast, per the National Weather Service.
• The parade is scheduled to start at 6:30pm and run along Constitution Avenue, stretching from 23rd Street NW near the Lincoln Memorial to 15th Street NW near the Washington Monument.

🇺🇸 Zoom in: President Trump views the Flag Day parade — which marks the 250th anniversary of the Army, and happens to fall on his 79th birthday — as a splashy show of U.S. military might.

• Planning for the event — which is to feature about 7,000 soldiers and more than 100 aircraft, tanks and rocket launchers and missiles — has been in the works for months.
• Crews have been erecting security fences around the perimeter of the White House, and a viewing stand on the Ellipse for Trump to watch the parade.

The spectacle's climax has been planned to be Army parachuters touching down to present Trump with a folded American flag.

• Next, Trump would preside over re-enlistments for 250 soldiers, before a fireworks display finale.
• The Army is working off a $45 million budget for the event, about a third of which would go toward repairing streets expected to be damaged by tanks and other heavy military vehicles.
• The cost estimates don't include the Secret Service's security spending.

🎇 Zoom out: Critics of the parade have called it unnecessarily political and have compared Trump's push for the parade — namely his desire to display military hardware and celebrate his own birthday — as the type of thing that dictators do.

• Trump has wanted a military parade since attending France's Bastille Day parade in 2017.

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Washingtonians have been living alongside tanks, howitzers, helicopters and security barriers this week as the city prepares for President Trump's military parade.

• Here are some scenes from around town:

Turns out Maryland and Virginia diners are pretty average tippers, per Toast's latest restaurant trends report.

• Marylanders tipped 19.4% on average at full-service restaurants in Q1 2025, and Virginians 19.3%
• The nationwide average was 19.4%.

How it works: That's based on data from restaurants using Toast; cash tips aren't included.

Yes, but: The report didn't include data for D.C., where Initiative 82 has increased the minimum wage for tipped workers — and, some argue, led to less generous tips.

• The D.C. Council paused I-82's previously scheduled wage hike next month as the city grapples with whether or not to repeal the law.

Go deeper.

📉 WorldPride didn't draw as many tourists as expected, early indicators suggest, with Destination D.C. announcing this week that hotel performance showed no significant uptick compared to previous years.

• Officials cited fear of travel to the U.S. as one of the reasons for lower-than-anticipated attendance. (Washington Business Journal)

🤔 Six out of 10 adults say Trump's military parade is not a good use of government money, according to a poll released yesterday. (Axios)

📣 Hundreds of students at Silver Spring's Montgomery Blair High School walked out in protest yesterday to show solidarity for a schoolmate they say was deported to Guatemala. (Washington Post)

🎶 Kevin Olusola, known for his work with Pentatonix, released a new song, "Hallelujah at Howard University" yesterday, featuring Howard's marching band and concert chorale.

🚨 A man undergoing a mental health crisis who climbed American University's radio tower Tuesday afternoon was still there and refusing to come down as of last night, per D.C. police. (Washington Post)

🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Swedish Midsummer Celebration on the National Mall at Sylvan Theater on June 20: Join them for Midsummer, one of Sweden's most beloved traditions for an evening full of joy, music, and community. Dance around the maypole, make your own flower crown, & celebrate like a true Swede. Free.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

D.C. sports are going to the dogs with pawthletes for the Nationals and Caps.

Leading the pack: "Bruce the Bat Dog," a golden boi making his major league debut at Pups at the Park on Saturday.

• The pup typically fetches for Triple-A Rochester, and will make a special appearance for the Nats' 1:05pm game vs. the Miami Marlins.
• Fans are encouraged to bring their own doggos, with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting Humane Rescue Alliance.

On Sunday, a special broadcast of "Stanley Pup" with Caps' pittie John Snarlson will air at 5:30pm through the Monumental Sports Network (streaming and downloadable).

🐕‍🦺 Audi Field, paws in your court next.