A significant military parade is set to take place next month, commemorating the Army's anniversary while coinciding with President Trump's 79th birthday. According to an Army spokesperson, the anticipated cost of the parade, which will be held in Washington, D.C., is estimated to range between $25 million and $45 million, as reported by CBS News.
The grand event will feature over 100 military vehicles and thousands of soldiers, who will be accommodated in federal buildings during the celebration. Additionally, the parade is expected to showcase approximately 50 helicopters, necessitating extensive coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the spokesperson revealed.
Scheduled for June 14, the parade will form part of the Army's 250th anniversary celebrations. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly emphasized the significance of the event, stating that the costs will be jointly covered by the Department of the Army and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. Kelly noted, "President Trump will commemorate the United States Army's birthday with a military parade that honors all who served since our great nation was founded 250 years ago."
In her statement, Kelly expressed that while no event could fully encapsulate the nation’s gratitude toward its heroes, the upcoming parade is intended as a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of all who have worn the uniform. The plans for the military parade began to circulate last month, and initial reports from The Associated Press indicated that the parade could involve more than 6,600 soldiers, seven bands, and 150 vehicles, including tanks and armored fighting vehicles.
President Trump confirmed the parade plans earlier this month during an interview with NBC's Meet The Press, stating, "We're going to have a big, beautiful parade." He also clarified that the event is not directly tied to his birthday. When questioned about the parade's cost, Trump dismissed concerns by asserting that it would be "peanuts compared to the value of doing it." He highlighted the strength of the U.S. military, proclaiming, "We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it."
However, the plans for the military parade have drawn criticism from some Democrats. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee labeled the initiative as wasteful and condemned what he referred to as the "egotist-in-chief" expecting taxpayers to finance a military parade on his birthday. Trump's interest in military pageantry is not new; during a visit to France in 2017, he praised the country's annual Bastille Day parade and suggested that the U.S. would need to "try and top it" on the Fourth of July.
After initial plans for a Veterans Day parade were drafted the following year, Trump postponed the event due to projected costs of up to $92 million. He attributed the high price to local officials, stating, "The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it." In a post on X, previously known as Twitter, Trump lamented, "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."
