President claims decision will prevent city ‘burning to the ground’

• Trump keeps national guard in LA for now

Tomorrow will see a parade fit for a king, writes my colleague David Smith – which is precisely why critics worry what message it will send the rest of the world about the future of democracy in America.

On Saturday there will be tanks on the streets of the nation’s capital as Washington hosts a celebration of the US army’s 250th anniversary, which happens to coincide with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.