The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to hold a massive military parade through the streets of Washington, D.C. on June 14, in celebration of both President Trump’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. A senior administration official confirmed the parade, which will span nearly four miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, to the White House.
The event is reminiscent of a similar idea floated during Trump’s first term, when he returned from a Bastille Day celebration in France inspired by the military spectacle and requested something even grander for the U.S. At the time, Trump reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron, “We’re going to have to try to top it.”
That initial 2018 parade was ultimately scrapped after the Defense Department estimated the cost at nearly $92 million. The price tag, logistical challenges, and internal criticism led to its cancellation just months before it was scheduled. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle raised concerns, with Sen. Dick Durbin calling it a “fantastic waste of money to amuse the president,” and Sen. Lindsey Graham cautioning against turning the event into a “Soviet-style” show of force.
City leaders in Washington also objected, citing potential damage to the roads from heavy military vehicles like tanks and the strain such an event would put on local resources. The costs of public safety, road repairs, and crowd control were projected to be substantial.
Despite past criticism, the Trump administration appears determined to make this year’s event happen. While specific details have not yet been made public, the Pentagon is expected to lean on the Army’s command structure which oversees high-profile ceremonies such as presidential inaugurations and state funerals to organize the parade. It’s likely that the Defense Department will utilize its training budget to cover military flyovers and bring in vehicles and personnel from nearby bases.
However, the parade will also require coordination with local law enforcement, the Secret Service, and the construction of viewing stands and barriers, all of which carry additional costs. With less than 10 weeks to prepare, the timeline is tight, raising questions about how smoothly such a large-scale operation can be executed in such a short window.
Still, the president’s team is pressing ahead, viewing the event not just as a birthday celebration, but as a high-visibility tribute to the military and, implicitly, to Trump’s leadership. Whether the public sees it as patriotic pageantry or political theater remains to be seen.