DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says Trump’s military parade should be ‘accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads’

Reports have indicated President Donald Trump is planning on hosting a military parade in Washington, DC on June 14 to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army as well as his 79th birthday. Bowser was asked about the reports during a press conference.

She was asked by a reporter, "The first time that the President was in office, he had talked about military tanks running down Pennsylvania Avenue. There was some pushback from the city. Yeah. Would you have the same kind of pushback?"

"Yeah, military tanks on our streets would not be good. If military tanks were used they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads. ... The other thing I'll note is, I think our initial report is that it would be starting from Virginia, from Arlington," Bowser said.

The reporter noted that the parade would be starting at the Pentagon in Arlington, and the mayor said that Department of Homeland Security had "reached out" to the special events taskforce, which is in charge of events such as parades.

Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said of the plans regarding the military parade, "It’s not clear to me what the scope of a parade would be. But I would hope the federal government remains sensitive to the pain and concerns of numerous [military] 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."

The Trump administration had moved to have a similar parade in 2018, but the plans were scrapped after officials in Washington, DC complained about the potential for tanks to damage the roads.