[By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] According to a report by "Politico" on April 7, the White House said that "there is no plan for a military parade" regarding reports that the Trump administration plans to hold a parade on June 14, which is Trump's birthday. Regional officials in Washington previously stated that they had contacted the federal government regarding celebratory events.
The Washington City Paper reported on the 7th that the Trump administration has designated June 14 to hold a parade in Washington D.C., which coincides with Trump's 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army.
It is reported that this parade will follow the route of the 1991 Gulf War victory celebration, starting from the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, southwest of Washington D.C., traveling approximately 4 miles (about 6.44 kilometers), all the way to the White House.
On July 14, 2017, Trump was invited to attend the traditional French National Day Parade. Visual China
Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington D.C., and Takis Karantonis, chairman of the Arlington County Council, said on the 7th that they have already discussed plans for holding a parade this summer with Trump administration officials. However, the plan seems to still be at an early stage.
Bowser said that Trump administration officials have contacted the District of Columbia Special Events Task Force, and the parade will extend from the Pentagon to the White House. But he is concerned that if heavy equipment is used in the parade, it may damage the streets of Washington, causing millions of dollars in losses.
"Having army tanks on our streets is not good," she said. "If the military sends out tanks, then they should also pay millions of dollars for road repairs."
Karantonis said in a statement that the Secret Service has contacted the county to begin discussing security issues related to the parade. He revealed that the White House issued a parade notice to the county 10 weeks before the event, but the scale of the parade remains unclear, and no specific details have been disclosed.
"At present, I am not clear about the scale of the parade, but I hope that the federal government will take into account the suffering and concerns of numerous active-duty soldiers and veterans in the region when considering how best to celebrate the Army's anniversary. They have lost or may lose their jobs due to recent federal decisions," Karantonis said.
The Associated Press (AP) also cited an unnamed defense official as saying that there might be a parade during the June 14 celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, which is Trump's 79th birthday. This celebration has been planned for about two years and includes a series of activities and equipment displays at the National Mall in Washington D.C., featuring military equipment such as Stryker armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters, etc.
Other unnamed officials said that organizing a large-scale parade would require extensive coordination among all six branches of the military, several federal agencies, and regional officials.
In response to the above reports, the White House said in an email to "Politico": "There is currently no plan for a military parade."
Trump’s obsession with parades dates back a long time but has yet to materialize. Since being invited to attend the French National Day Parade in 2017, Trump has always wanted to replicate one in Washington. He has repeatedly stated publicly: "We must have a bigger parade than France."
Trump attempted to hold a parade on Veterans Day, November 11, 2018, but abandoned the idea due to criticism from various quarters. Trump said on social media at the time that he decided to cancel the parade because of cost issues and accused local officials of inflating prices.
This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7490818295843635727/
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