GRAND arrangements are underway for an enormous military parade on Donald Trump’s birthday, featuring approximately 7,000 troops marching and 50 helicopters flying over Washington DC.
The president reportedly plans to splash a whopping $100 million on the full-blown military spectacle to show the US might.
A source in Washington DC has disclosed that Trump is organizing an extensive military parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Army on June 14 – a date that coincides with his birthday.
The plans include starting the procession at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, with the contingents weaving through the streets of the capital to arrive at the White House.
The grandiose military parade will showcase soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines marching in their uniforms in front of thousands of spectators, the Washington City Paper reported.
As many as 6,600 troops and seven band contingents have reportedly been called to participate in the military parade.
They will be accompanied by at least 150 military vehicles and some 50 air force choppers.
Some 2,000 civilians could also take march alongside the US military.
Plans are also to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, and aircraft and missiles, just as he first envisioned the parade during his first term.
While US officials have yet to release the cost of the planned parade, the figure is expected to reach tens of millions of dollars.
This includes the cost of transporting all the military equipment across Washington and putting up safety measures for the public expected to gather at the parade.
Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler said that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.
He added: “We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us.
“We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers.
“A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.”
And Trump appeared to tease the grand plan in a post on Truth Social, where he wrote: “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
He also vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as “Victory Day for World War II,” and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to “Victory Day for World War I”.
FIRST-TERM PARADE SCUTTLED
In 2017, Trump wanted the US military to throw a parade as a show of force after watching a French military spectacle the year before.
President Emmanuel Macron treated the president to an elaborate military display, which Trump is said to have become a big fan of.
After watching the grand spectacle, he said, “We’re going to have to try and top it.”
But Trump’s plans were cut short by district officials and other military leaders, and he was forced to cancel the plan, which reportedly cost $91 million.
Why is Trump doing a parade on June 14?
JUNE 14 this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army, also known as Army Day.
The day also coincides with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
To celebrate both things in style, Trump is planning to throw a military parade to showcase the US’s might.
For years, the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show displaying the US might, but has failed to put up a working plan – until now.
Authorities complained that it was too big an amount to spend on a military parade and that rolling down battle tanks and other heavy equipment would significantly damage the roads.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser questioned Trump’s plans at the time.
“The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it,” she said.
“When asked to give us a price for holding a great celebratory military parade, they wanted a number so ridiculously high that I cancelled it.
“Never let someone hold you up! I will instead …attend the big parade already scheduled at Andrews Air Force Base on a different date.”
BIRTHDAY SPECTACLE
They also warned Trump of public safety – and a whopping $21 million price tag that comes attached to it.
While Trump reluctantly had to give up on the plan during his first term, it seems like the president is all set to bring it back.
And it could be the greatest military spectacle the world has ever seen.
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis told the Washington City Paper that he was given a “heads up” about the parade by the White House, but with no firm details.
“It’s not clear to me what the scope of a parade would be, but I would hope the federal government remains sensitive to the pain and concerns of numerous [military] veteran residents who have lost or might lose their jobs in recent federal decisions, as they reflect on how best to celebrate the Army’s anniversary,” he said.
AMERICA’S 250th CELEBRATION
Trump is also planning a so-called Great American State Fair to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Trump floated plans to showcase America’s greatness in its true sense – packed in a year-long grand festival to mark the country’s anniversary, dubbed the semiquincentennial, in a grand style that can be seen in the video above.
Trump, who led his 2024 election campaign on the promise to make America great again, will take this opportunity to portray the country’s might in the most patriotic way.
It was just a year ago when he called all Americans to prepare for the Great American State Fair – a gigantic carnival of joy that would mark America’s 250th birthday in true Trump fashion.
Various contingents could take part in a grand parade in front of millions of people visiting the fair – and Trump could build a “National Garden of American Heroes” with statues of important figures in American history.
This may include giant structures of George Washington, Neil Armstrong, and Muhammad Ali.
Use our interactive map here to find out about what attractions could be at the mega MAGA event.
