WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump may finally get the military parade he has long desired.
The U.S. Army is organizing a major event to commemorate its 250th anniversary and also mark President Trump’s 79th birthday, both of which fall on June 14. The celebration is expected to feature tanks, military vehicles, and aircraft filling the streets and skies of Washington, D.C., according to three defense officials familiar with the planning.
During his first term, Trump pushed for a grand military parade, but the plans were canceled due to concerns over the costs and the potential damage some military vehicles, especially tanks, could cause to D.C. streets. The projected cost of the parade now is expected to reach “tens of millions of dollars,” according to two of the defense officials.
Not forgetting his previous idea, Trump is now looking to hold a parade to honor both his and the Army’s anniversaries. The current plans include more than 150 military vehicles and 50 aircraft that will take part in a parade through Washington on June 10, the three officials confirmed. This may include wheeled Army vehicles, like Humvees and trucks, as well as tracked vehicles such as tanks.
The aircraft featured in the parade will likely include CH-47 Chinook helicopters and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Additionally, the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team is expected to jump from the sky, land near the viewing stands, and deliver a flag to VIPs, including most likely President Trump, according to two of the officials.
To celebrate its 250th birthday, the Army is planning several events, including a fireworks display, a festival, and a parade. Army spokesperson Steve Warren stated in a release, “Parade planning is actively underway, and we anticipate approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 Soldiers to highlight the Army’s 250 years of service to the nation.”
The plan for the tanks is still being finalized. One option being considered is placing the tanks on trailers, which would help reduce the potential damage to the streets, though it could affect the visual appeal of the parade, officials said. Additionally, there are plans to set up a separate staging area for the heavy vehicles to avoid them crossing any of Washington, D.C.’s bridges, according to two officials.
The vehicles are expected to move in columns through the streets of Washington, a display that some critics of the parade during Trump’s first term compared to military processions typically seen in countries like North Korea and Russia. As of now, the plan includes Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker Armored Fighting Vehicles, the Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicles, and more. All the Army vehicles would be sourced from the Army’s 10 divisions and transported mostly by train from bases like Fort Bliss, Texas, to Fort Drum, New York, the officials confirmed.
Each division will dedicate between 200 and 400 people to the parade, the officials said. Under the current plan, some of the troops would sleep in government buildings, including the Department of Agriculture and U.S. General Services Administration buildings, according to two of the defense officials.
Asked about the parade last month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that planning was in the early stages and that the Trump administration had reached out about it, but said she had not been directly involved yet.
The parade theme will include U.S. wars throughout the Army’s history and include soldiers marching in period uniforms, the officials explained.
The plans are still evolving but the current early estimate is the parade and static displays in D.C. will cost as much as $45 million, according to two of the defense officials, who said that could change as planning continues. The final estimates from inside the Army are not yet complete as plans for the parade have not yet been fully approved by the White House and the Army, two of the officials said.
Individual Army units will bear the ultimate cost of the parade, three of the officials said. In some cases, units would have to spend more than $1 million to participate. That could impact funds used for training, officials said. “Could the parade potentially impact training? Absolutely,” said one of the defense officials. “Will it impact training? That’s unclear.”
