The Army said it would cover the costs of damages to Washington, D.C. streets from the June 14 parade. Mayor Muriel Bowser is worried that he will remain holding the bag for repairs.
The White House is planning a Trump birthday parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army
The White House is planning a massive military parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Buffer said he is still “worried” about the damage to the city’s streets from dozens of tanks and armored vehicles set up to roll downtown in the capital during the Army’s 250th anniversary parade on June 14 – President Donald Trump’s birthday too.
Last month, Bowser said tanks running down the streets of Washington “should be bad” and “multiple millions of dollars.”
Since then, the Army told reporters it hadn’t expected any damage to the streets and would cover the costs of the asphalt that was plagued by it. Thick metal plates will be placed on turnover turns on the tank’s parade route to protect the road, according to Army officials.
But Bowser said at a press conference on May 29 that he was worried that the city would be in charge of repairs to them and that the Pentagon would have to wait for a refund.
“I’m continuing to worry about it,” she said. “These are mostly local streets and if they are not available, you need to make them available.”
“We’ll probably fix it and then go and ask for money from the Fed,” she said. “It gives me concern about waiting for them to return before the cost.”
The parade, which corresponds to President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, was a pressure point between Bowser and Trump, clashing for a similarly huge military parade in his first term.
Trump announced in 2018 that he had denounced “local politicians” for canceling plans for the previous parade and raising the price tag to $21 million.
“Local politicians who run through Washington, DC, know (inadequately) Washington, DC when they see it,” he tweeted.
Bowser hit her with the fact that she “finally reaches the reality star of the White House and has real-life costs.”
This time, according to the Army, Bowser has restricted criticism of future parades.
The parade will feature 28 Abrams tanks and double armored vehicles rolling constitutional strips north of the National Mall.
Historic fighter jets and at least 50 helicopters fly overhead. An army parachute player called the Golden Knights descends and presents a folded flag on the card.
