President Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C., that would coincide with his 79th birthday on June 14, which also marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Flag Day. According to reports, the planned parade would stretch approximately four miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River to the White House in Washington, D.C.
The parade is expected to include soldiers, armored vehicles, tactical vehicles, and other military equipment.
CNN anchor Erin Burnett has drawn comparisons between Trump’s planned military parade and similar displays commonly seen in countries like North Korea, China, and Russia.
“Trump is busy, said to be planning his own military parade… a celebration that is much more familiar in settings outside the United States, whether that be China, Russia or North Korea—put on by some of the strongmen that Trump has said that he admires.”
Burnett also compared Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting similarities in their behaviors. She added that Putin, through his state-controlled media, often highlights seemingly trivial matters that he personally values, such as the number of goals he scores in a hockey game. She suggested that the relevance of this might resonate with recent events, referencing Trump’s recent focus on his golf achievements even as global markets responded negatively to his tariff policies.
The Washington City Paper initially reported the parade plans on Sunday, April 6. While the White House told Fox News that “no military parade has been scheduled,” they did not explicitly deny that one was being planned.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged the early-stage plans but indicated that neither Homeland Security nor the White House had reached out to the city’s “special events task force” regarding the event. “I would say it’s at its early stages,” Bowser noted, while expressing concerns about potential damage to city infrastructure.
This is not Trump’s first attempt at organizing a large-scale military parade. During his first term in office, he pushed for a similar event after being inspired by France’s Bastille Day celebrations that he witnessed in 2017. Those plans were ultimately abandoned in 2018 when cost estimates reached approximately $92 million, according to the Associated Press. The cancelled parade was expected to include fighter jets, tanks, and other military planes.
The previous parade proposal faced bipartisan criticism, with concerns that it might resemble displays of military strength typically associated with authoritarian regimes. Some critics also questioned the high price tag and the potential damage to Washington, D.C.’s streets and infrastructure.
Mayor Bowser has previously expressed opposition to having military tanks on the city’s streets, citing the significant costs that would be required for road repairs afterward. Infrastructure considerations, such as whether the 14th Street Bridge could support the weight of military vehicles, would also need to be addressed before any parade could proceed.
The U.S. Army is currently planning to celebrate its 250th anniversary with multiple events throughout the year. According to some reports, the Army has been exploring options to make the celebration “bigger,” including demonstrations and vehicle displays on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Officials from the Army have confirmed preliminary discussions with the White House and local authorities about organizing a “national-level event” for the milestone anniversary. However, the specifics of these plans, including whether they would incorporate the president’s desired military parade, remain unclear.
The timing of the potential parade has drawn additional scrutiny given the current economic climate. Media personality Charlamagne tha God criticized the plans, suggesting that with the economy “in the toilet” and “nothing to celebrate right now,” such an expensive display would constitute “wasteful spending.”
Some observers have noted that, unlike countries such as Russia, China, and North Korea, large-scale military parades are not a common tradition in modern American culture. Presidential military parades in the United States have typically been reserved for significant occasions, such as major military victories.
The parade planning comes as the Trump administration has made significant changes at the Pentagon, with several high-ranking generals whose loyalty the president questioned having been removed from their positions. This restructuring could potentially make it easier for the parade to receive military approval this time around.
As the proposed date approaches, logistical challenges regarding road closures, security arrangements, and coordination with the Army’s own planned commemorative events will need to be addressed if the parade is to move forward as reported.
