The U.S. Army has completed a preliminary review of the damage caused to Washington, D.C.’s streets by heavy military vehicles during President Donald Trump’s massive military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary—and, coincidentally, his 70th birthday.
The initial findings? Minor damage.
“The only issue we’ve identified so far is a broken curb—a tank rolled over it and crushed it,” said Army spokesperson Steve Warren. “We’ll be fixing that. Beyond that, there’s no other visible damage at this point.”
Warren added that further inspections are underway to check for any potential damage to underground infrastructure, such as cables or utility lines, that might have been affected by the weight of the tanks.
An M4 Sherman tank was among the armored vehicles that rolled through the capital on June 14, drawing both cheers and concerns from city officials.
The D.C. Department of Transportation also reported no visible problems with city-maintained roads following a visual survey. The National Park Service, which oversees federal roadways like the National Mall and George Washington Parkway, plans to complete a final assessment after a 30-day observation period.
The parade, which carried an estimated $45 million price tag, included $16 million earmarked specifically for potential road repairs. To minimize stress on the streets, organizers placed 20-foot-long metal plates at sharp turns along the route—at a cost of $3 million.
Ahead of the event, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser voiced concern that local streets could be severely damaged and hinted the city might seek federal reimbursement if repairs were necessary. “If these streets are rendered unusable, we have to fix them. That gives me concern—especially if we’re fronting the money,” she said at the time.
But thus far, it seems the worst-case scenario was avoided.
President Trump presided over the event with a salute to U.S. troops, watching the procession of tanks, troops, and aircraft. Attendance figures, however, didn’t meet expectations: while the White House claimed 250,000 spectators, the Army’s estimate was closer to 198,000.
Despite the pageantry, the celebration wasn’t without controversy. According to journalist Michael Wolff, Trump was privately furious with what he saw as overly cheerful behavior from the participating soldiers. “He was angry they were smiling and waving. He wanted a more stern, military look,” Wolff said on The Daily Beast podcast.
The military spectacle unfolded on a day of nationwide tension. As tanks rolled down D.C.’s streets, millions across the country joined “No Kings” protests condemning Trump’s leadership. The event also came just hours after the shocking assassination of Minnesota Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband, amid escalating unrest in Los Angeles and turmoil in the Middle East.
While the parade itself passed without major incidents, it remains a symbol of a sharply divided nation—one caught between celebration, protest, and mounting political violence.
