President Donald Trump reportedly wants a ‘big military parade’ to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army – a date the coincides with his 79th birthday.
The Washington City Paper reported Sunday that the Trump Administration is looking at holding a parade on June 14th, which is also Flag Day.
It would start at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and move into Washington, D.C., concluding at the White House, a source told the alt-weekly.
A White House official told DailyMail.com that ‘no military parade has been scheduled.’
That same official did not respond when asked if one was being planned.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference Monday that she wasn’t sure if it was being described as a military parade – but confirmed a parade had been pitched to the D.C. government.
‘I don’t know if it’s been characterized as a military parade, but maybe it has, I haven’t been directly involved in it yet. I understand that I think it was Homeland Security maybe the White House reached out to our special events taskforce, which is what most people wanting to do a parade to in the District,’ Bowser said.
‘So I would say that it’s at its early stages, yes they have reached out, I don’t know if it’s being characterized as a military parade,’ she added.
President Donald Trump reportedly wants a ‘big military parade’ to take place on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which also coincides with his 79th birthday on June 14th
The closest President Donald Trump got to the military parade he desired during his first term was his 2019 July 4th celebration entitled ‘Salute to America’
The reporter mentioned how there were concerns when Trump previously wanted to host a military parade that D.C.’s streets wouldn’t be able to handle tanks running down them.
‘Yeah, military tanks on our streets would not be good,’ Bowser agreed.
‘If military tanks were used they should be accompanied by many millions of dollars to repair the roads,’ the D.C. mayor added.
Upon hearing that planners wanted it to being at the Pentagon, she also acknowledged: ‘That does sound like a military parade.’
She also said in order for a parade to go over the 14th Street Bridge it would ‘require a test.’
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis told the City Paper that the county was given a ‘heads up’ about a parade by the White House on Friday, though no official request for support had been submitted.
‘It’s not clear to me what the scope of a parade would be,’ Karantonis said. ‘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.’
Droves of federal workers, including veterans, have been purged from government payrolls as part of Elon Musk’s effort with DOGE, the ‘Department of Government Efficiency.’
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle on display as part of President Donald Trump’s 2019 ‘Salute to America’ on the Fourth of July
A Stealth Bomber (center) flies over the National Mall escorted by two F-22s as part of President Donald Trump’s 2019 ‘Salute to America’
The president had wanted to host a military parade during his first term, but that idea was scrapped when the pricetag was estimated to be $92 million dollars.
Trump had been inspired by the military-style parade he witnessed when visiting French President Emmanuel Macron for Bastille Day celebrations in Paris in 2017 – one of his first international trips as the U.S. leader.
A show of military might isn’t a common sight in the United States and is moreso associated with dictatorships like North Korea and Iran.
The closest Trump got to his military parade was his 2019 Fourth of July celebration that was entitled a ‘Salute to America.’
That gathering, which happened on the Lincoln Monument steps, including several military flyovers – including a Stealth Bomber and Air Force One – and tanks on display, including Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
