The United States Army is preparing detailed plans for a large-scale military parade in the nation's capital this June, a potential celebration that would coincide with both the Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
According to planning documents obtained by the Associated Press, the proposed event would involve more than 6,600 soldiers, approximately 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven Army bands, and an estimated couple thousand civilian participants.
The planning materials, dated April 29 and 30, outline the scope and scale of a celebration that would significantly expand upon the Army’s original birthday festival plans, which have been underway for over a year.
The addition of a full military parade — a longstanding desire of President Trump — remains under discussion and has not yet received final approval from the White House or the Department of Defense.
Still, officials familiar with the planning say preparations are well underway in case approval is granted.
Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler described the celebration as a national moment of unity and recognition. “We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” Butler said. “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.”
Another Army spokesperson, Steve Warren, acknowledged the discussions surrounding the parade but emphasized that no decision had yet been finalized.
While the planning slides do not list cost estimates, similar proposals during Trump’s first term were projected to cost tens of millions of dollars. A 2018 attempt to organize a military parade was ultimately canceled, in part due to a projected price tag of more than $90 million. Concerns over the use of tanks and heavy vehicles damaging infrastructure also contributed to the plan being scrapped.
This time around, cost estimates have not been released, but the logistical requirements suggest a massive undertaking. Military equipment and personnel would need to be transported from bases across the country to Washington, D.C., and thousands of service members would require housing, meals, and security arrangements.
Some local officials are already voicing concern. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in April that the administration had contacted the city about a proposed parade route stretching from Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River and into the capital. Bowser, recalling the damage concerns from previous parade discussions, was cautious about the proposal.
“Tanks rolling through the city’s streets would not be good,” she said. “If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads.”
City officials are not the only ones raising concerns. One of the internal documents reviewed by AP highlights several limitations, including the need to identify where the thousands of troops would be housed and notes “significant concerns regarding security requirements” due to the volume of equipment that would enter the city.
Despite the challenges, the Army continues to prepare in case the parade is approved. The plans include a robust combination of marching soldiers, vehicles, flyovers, historical reenactments, and civilian contributions.
Documents indicate that approximately 6,300 service members would take part in the parade itself, while others would assist with support operations.
The parade would be followed by an evening concert and a fireworks display, according to the outline. It would also be designated a national special security event, which would involve a coordinated security effort between the military, the Secret Service, and local law enforcement. A formal request for that designation has already been submitted by the National Park Service and is currently under review.
If approved, the parade would include participants from at least 11 different Army corps and divisions. The line-up could feature Stryker vehicles, tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Paladin artillery systems, and other armored units.
The plan also includes a parachute jump by the Army’s Golden Knights and performances by Army bands. Civilian participants may include veterans organizations, military colleges, and groups of historical reenactors.
While the Army has said the parade is part of its broader effort to commemorate its 250 years of service to the nation, the timing of the event — June 14 — also falls on President Trump’s birthday, a fact not lost on observers.
Trump has long expressed admiration for military pageantry and has publicly discussed his desire for a grand military parade since witnessing one during a state visit to France in 2017. Inspired by France’s Bastille Day celebrations, he proposed a similar event along Pennsylvania Avenue but abandoned the plan due to high costs and local opposition.
In 2018, Trump blamed local officials for inflating costs and accused them of obstructing the effort. He wrote on social media that he was canceling the parade due to “ridiculously high” estimates and added that he would instead attend a parade at Andrews Air Force Base and contribute to a future event “at a later date.”
Now, with his second term underway and the Army already planning a major event for the same day as his birthday, the opportunity to realize his vision of a military parade may be within reach.
Trump did not directly mention the proposed June 14 parade in a recent post on Truth Social, but he wrote, “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
He also proposed renaming the annual Victory in Europe Day on May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II” and changing the name of Veterans Day on November 11 to “Victory Day for World War I.”
White House officials have not commented on the specifics of the Army parade plan, nor have they indicated when a final decision will be made. Those involved in the planning stress that the proposal is still evolving, with adjustments being made regularly in anticipation of presidential approval.
Critics argue that turning a military anniversary into a platform for personal celebration risks politicizing the armed forces. Others say it’s inappropriate to use military resources for a parade during a time when the country is still dealing with foreign conflicts and internal fiscal constraints.
Nonetheless, the Army has defended its work in preparing for what it describes as a national commemoration. “This is about honoring the service and sacrifices of soldiers over 250 years,” said one official involved in the planning. “If a parade is part of that, then we want to be ready.”
Until a formal announcement is made, preparations will continue in parallel with discussions between the Pentagon, the White House, and city officials. What began as a celebration of Army history may soon become a centerpiece event — one that blends institutional tradition with the unmistakable political imprint of the man in the Oval Office.
