Washington, D.C. Prepares for Military Parade

Washington, D.C. is gearing up for a military parade on Saturday to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. In preparation, over 18 miles of anti-scale fencing have been set up, and numerous drones will be deployed for security.

Interestingly, this event coincides with Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

Officials from the Army anticipate around 200,000 attendees, but just to be cautious, they’re bracing for possibly hundreds of thousands.

“We’re preparing for an enormous turnout,” said Matt McCool from the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington, D.C., office.

In an interesting twist, over 350 Mountain Soldiers have made their way to Washington to participate in the celebration. It’s quite a commitment, considering the Army’s long history of service.

“We have a ton of magnetometers,” McCool added. “If a million people show up, then we’re going to have some lines.”

There are worries about potential counter-protests and possible riots. A mass march toward the White House is scheduled for the same day, along with a nationwide “No Kings” rally targeting the Trump administration.

“We’re paying close attention to what’s happening there,” McCool mentioned. “We have a robust plan in place for civil disobedience.”

They expect to use 175 magnetometers at the security checkpoints for both the daytime festival and the nighttime parade.

“This is a significant event with a large footprint,” noted Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith. “We’re relying on the public to be an extra set of ears and eyes for us.”

So far, there are “no credible threats” against the event according to Phillip Bates, an FBI agent with the Washington Field office.

Interestingly, while the U.S. Army event had been in the works for months, it grew significantly in scope after President Trump got involved, with additions like M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers being included in the programming.