There will be more members of the US Army in Washington for Joe Biden’s inauguration than there are in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
At least 10,000 National Guard troops will descend on the capital on January 20, eclipsing the 5,000 troops currently stationed in the two Middle-Eastern and Asian countries.
There are currently 6,200 National Guard troops in Washington following the horrific events that unfolded at the Capitol building last week.
That number will rise from Saturday as more troops travel from across America to strengthen the already heavy military presence.
National Guard chief general Daniel Hokanson said he has authorization to deploy as many as 15,000 troops to DC for inauguration if necessary, amid concerns over security following the riots by Pro-Trump supporters on Wednesday.
Five people lost their lives as rioters stormed the Capitol building when lawmakers met to certify Joe Biden’s election win.
Since then, the FBI has warned of ‘armed protests’ and the possibility of an ‘uprising’ during President-elect Biden’s inauguration week.
Since 9/11 the US has been sure to keep a heavy military presence in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan to mitigate against the threat of terrorism.
In October, the Department of Homeland Security released a report warning that violent white supremacy would remain the ‘most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland’.
‘Foreign terrorist organizations will continue to call for Homeland attacks but probably will remain constrained in their ability to direct such plots over the next year’, the report added.
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