What to expect at Trump's $45 million military parade in DC
Share this @internewscast.com

Hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to flood the streets of Washington, DC, Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army.

The extravagant parade, coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday, will showcase an impressive array of approximately 6,600 soldiers alongside hundreds of vehicles and aircraft, as announced by Army representatives.

“We’re going to have a great time; we are going to have a great celebration,” Trump said, touting the festival as a show of US military might.

While preparations for the event have been ongoing for nearly two years, the inclusion of military vehicles in the parade is a new addition to this year’s festivities. Army representatives informed CBS News that the branch is unlikely to make any references to Trump’s birthday during the parade.

The event’s financial requirement has been projected to fall between $25 million and $45 million, although the precise expenditures remain undisclosed.

Although the event will align with Trump’s birthday, the timing is just a coincidence.

The Second Continental Congress voted to create the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, after battles against the British in Concord and Lexington, naming George Washington commander-in-chief the next day.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the House Armed Services Committee that the parade represents an “amazing opportunity” to tell the story about the Army, and could even pay recruitment dividends.

“I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom that will fill up our pipeline for the coming years,” Driscoll said.

The festival will kick off on the National Mall at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, running until 6 p.m. The military parade will start at 6:30 p.m., starting at 23rd Street NW along Constitution Avenue to 15th Street NW, concluding around 7:30 p.m. Fox News will be airing special coverage of the parade from 6-10 p.m. ET; if you don’t have cable, you can watch for free with a five-day trial of DIRECTV.

A fireworks display on the mall is scheduled to follow the parade around 9:45 p.m.

The parade will be the first such cavalcade since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, during which around 200,000 people gathered on the National Mall to watch some 8,000 service members march in the National Victory parade.

Because the massive equipment — some, like the M1A1 Abrams tank weighing upwards of 60 tons — wasn’t designed to roll down paved city streets, the Army has been making special preparations to minimize damage to DC roadways.

Leading up to the parade, the Army has been placing one-inch-thick steel plates, ranging in size from 4-by-8 feet to 8-by-20 feet, at points on the route where the heavier vehicles will be making turns.

The Army has pledged to pay for the repairs if any streets are damaged, which could add $16 million to the price of the festival, according to NBC News.

US Army Col. Jesse Curry, who heads the Office of the Chief of Engineers, told reporters Monday during a security briefing that the vehicles will also be equipped with rubber track pads to further mitigate damage, noting that they will be traveling slowly.

The parade will serve as a living history lesson, spanning every era of the Army from the Revolutionary War to today — and even the future — as thousands of soldiers will be decked out in era-appropriate uniforms and gear.

Front and center at the parade will be a tribute to the American Revolution, featuring horse-mounted Dragoon troops outfitted with the uniforms and weapons from that time.

Next up will be the Civil War, featuring 12 Texas steeds leading the march and a pair of mules pulling a wagon to symbolize the Western Expansion that followed the conflict, which included scores of battles with Native Americans.

World War I and World War II will be represented with a classic Renault Tank, the famous armored vehicle used by the Allies, as well as a vintage 1918 Dodge Touring Car.

The World War II section of the parade will be the biggest, featuring multiple American trucks and jeeps used in the war and supplied to US allies, including the Chevrolet G7117 and Ford GPW.

This section is also when the aerial events start, with the B-25 Mitchell bomber, C-47 Skytrain transport, and P-51 Mustang fighter plane set to fly over DC.

Cold War-era conflicts like the Korean and Vietnam Wars will see the aircraft procession continue with the OH-6 Cayuse, AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.

The next section will start with the iconic M2 Bradley fighting armored vehicle deployed during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.

Along with the armored vehicle, the troops will also show off the powerful Paladin and M1A1 Abrams tanks, and the M119 Howitzer.

Vehicles from the War on Terror will also be featured, including the modern US Stryker armored vehicle, which became a staple of America’s war in the Middle East.

The final section includes a roundup of the American equipment from previous wars that are still used today, along with new additions like the M777 Howitzer that was used in Afghanistan.

The parade is not without controversy — the cost has come under scrutiny by members of Congress, particularly as the Trump administration has made cutting wasteful government spending a top priority.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
2026 NFL Draft: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, whose mother Ashley Griggs died in Chicago shooting, drafted No. 4 overall

2026 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Carnell Tate Honors Late Mother Ashley Griggs, Secures No. 4 Pick

In a significant moment for both the athlete and his supporters, Carnell…
Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift

Pentagon Contemplates NATO Shake-Up: Spain’s Membership at Risk Amid Iran Dispute

An internal email from the Pentagon has unveiled potential strategies for the…
Iran has 'open window' to negotiate, but 'clock is not on their side,' Pete Hegseth says

Pete Hegseth: Iran Faces Time-Sensitive Opportunity for Diplomatic Negotiations

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently addressed the potential for negotiations with…
Passport to Illinois Part 3: Touring Cantigny, Haymarket Martyrs Monument and more

Explore Illinois: Discover Cantigny Park, Haymarket Martyrs Monument & More on Your Ultimate Passport Adventure

CHICAGO — As the United States gears up to celebrate its 250th…
Semitruck driver in deadly interstate crash fraudulently obtained license, citizenship: Officials

Tragic Interstate Crash Unveils Fraudulent License and Citizenship Claims of Semitruck Driver

A tragic interstate collision that claimed the lives of a young family…
City manager 'begged' fired Cincinnati police chief for more officers on street as crime skyrocketed

City Manager Urgently Requested Additional Officers from Dismissed Cincinnati Police Chief Amid Rising Crime Rates

Cincinnati’s former police chief, Teresa Theetge, who previously faced a lawsuit from…
Simple act can lower risk of early death by 45%: new study

Discover the Simple Habit That Could Slash Your Risk of Early Death by 45%

Participating in elections might just be your ticket to both civic responsibility…
17 charged across New England after massive coordinated street takeover wreaks havoc in suburban Boston town

17 Arrested in New England After Major Street Takeover Disrupts Boston Suburb

Authorities in Massachusetts have apprehended 17 individuals from New England in connection…
Hugh Jackman takes on new role for innovative charity

Hugh Jackman Joins Groundbreaking Charity Initiative in Exciting New Role

Hugh Jackman, renowned for his leading roles in blockbuster films such as…
San Diego cuts deal with Disney that will bring huge boost to port traffic

San Diego Secures Landmark Deal with Disney to Skyrocket Port Traffic and Economic Growth

Disney Cruise Line is making a significant commitment to San Diego’s port,…
Former North Carolina police officer arrested for allegedly planning mass shooting at New Orleans festival

Ex-North Carolina Police Officer Detained for Suspected Plot to Stage Mass Shooting at New Orleans Festival

A former police officer from North Carolina has been apprehended in Florida…
House considers bill to create 'buffer zones' outside houses of worship to ward off protest chaos

House Proposes Bill for ‘Buffer Zones’ to Safeguard Worship Spaces from Protest Disruptions

Congress is currently weighing a new legislative proposal that aims to establish…