President Trump really, really wants tanks to roll up at his Fourth of July celebration.
So much so that he's risking the destruction of Washington, D.C.'s infrastructure just to bring them to the city. Despite concerns over the health of the capital's roads, bridges, and monuments, at least two tanks and other military vehicles have already arrived at a train station at the edge of D.C., The Associated Press reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The tanks' location is particularly relevant given that Arlington Memorial Bridge, which links the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery, may not be able to support their weight, The New York Times reports. Engineers are also reportedly mapping out whether the heavy vehicles will damage underground rooms at the Lincoln Memorial, where Trump told reporters tanks would be "stationed outside," per The Washington Post.
Even if the tanks stay off the Arlington bridge, they're still likely to tear up D.C.'s roads as they head to the National Mall. Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich has decided this isn't a problem, telling the Times that "other than the fact they have to pay to fix the streets, who cares?"
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
Why scientists are attempting nuclear fusionThe Explainer Harnessing the reaction that powers the stars could offer a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free energy, and the race is hotting up
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
