President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at Fort Bragg on Tuesday to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army, coinciding with his deployment of troops to manage immigration protests in Los Angeles.
Mr Trump has promoted the Army’s milestone as a reason to hold a military parade in Washington DC, on Saturday, which also happens to be his 79th birthday.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that without sending troops to Los Angeles, the city would be “burning to the ground,” blaming local officials for delays in rebuilding homes following extensive fires.
He criticised the city and state permits as “disastrously bungled up and WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE,” stating that federal permitting is complete and urging residents to contact their officials.
The use of military deployment and public statements is being characterised by the White House as an attempt to address unrest and public safety concerns – although critics including Calfornia Governor Gavin Newsom have accused the billionaire of inflaming the situation.
