logo
Trump plans for massive military parade on his birthday revealed – with 7,000 troops, 50 choppers & 150 vehicles

Trump plans for massive military parade on his birthday revealed – with 7,000 troops, 50 choppers & 150 vehicles

The Irish Sun02-05-2025
GRAND plans are being made for a massive military parade on Donald Trump's birthday - with some 7,000 troops marching and 50 helicopters flying over Washington DC.
The president reportedly plans to splash a whopping $100 million on the full-blown military spectacle to show the US might.
Advertisement
9
US Army honor guard drill team marching in Memorial Day parade in Washington DC
9
Plans are also to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, aircraft and missiles
Credit: AFP
9
soldiers from the Marine Corps, lined up at the Veterans Day Parade in NYC.
Credit: Getty
9
A source in Washington DC has revealed that Trump is planning a massive military parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army on June 14 - which also happens to be his birthday.
Plans are to start the procession at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, from where the contingents will snake through the streets of the capital to reach the White House.
The grandiose military parade will showcase soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines marching in their uniforms in front of thousands of spectators, the
As many as 6,600 troops and seven band contingents have reportedly been called to participate in the military parade.
Advertisement
They will be accompanied by at least 150 military vehicles and some 50 air force choppers.
Some 2,000 civilians could also take march alongside the US military.
Plans are also to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, and aircraft and missiles, just as he first envisioned the parade during his first term.
While US officials have yet to release the cost of the planned parade, the figure is expected to reach tens of millions of dollars.
Advertisement
Most read in The US Sun
This includes the cost of transporting all the military equipment across Washington and putting up safety measures for the public expected to gather at the parade.
'We're just getting started': Donald Trump hails his first 100 days in fiery speech & says 'golden age' is beginning
Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler said that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.
He added: 'We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us.
'We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers.
Advertisement
"A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.'
And Trump appeared to tease the grand plan in a post on Truth Social, where he wrote: "We are going to start celebrating our victories again!'
He also vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as 'Victory Day for World War II,' and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to 'Victory Day for World War I".
FIRST-TERM PARADE SCUTTLED
In 2017, Trump wanted the US military to throw a parade as a show of force after watching a French military spectacle the year before.
Advertisement
President Emmanuel Macron treated the president to an elaborate military display, which Trump is said to have become a big fan of.
After watching the grand spectacle, he said, "We're going to have to try and top it.'
But Trump's plans were cut short by district officials and other military leaders, and he was forced to cancel the plan, which reportedly cost $91 million.
Authorities complained that it was too big an amount to spend on a military parade and that rolling down battle tanks and other heavy equipment would significantly damage the roads.
Advertisement
Washington
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser questioned Trump's plans at the time.
"The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it," she said.
"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.
"Never let someone hold you up! I will instead …attend the big parade already scheduled at Andrews Air Force Base on a different date."
Advertisement
BIRTHDAY SPECTACLE
They also warned Trump of public safety - and a whopping $21 million price tag that comes attached to it.
While Trump reluctantly had to give up on the plan during his first term, it seems like the president is all set to bring it back.
And it could be the greatest military spectacle the world has ever seen.
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis told the Washington City Paper that he was given a 'heads up' about the parade by the White House, but with no firm details.
Advertisement
"It's not clear to me what the scope of a parade would be, 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," he said.
9
Donald Trump held a rally in Michigan to mark his first 100 days in office
Credit: Reuters
9
The president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, displaying the US might for years
Credit: Getty
AMERICA'S 250th CELEBRATION
Trump is also planning a so-called Great American State Fair to celebrate the country's 250th birthday in 2026.
Advertisement
Trump floated plans to showcase America's greatness in its true sense - packed in a year-long grand festival to mark the country's anniversary, dubbed the semiquincentennial, in a grand style that can be seen in the video above.
Trump, who led his 2024 election campaign on the promise to make America great again, will take this opportunity to portray the country's might in the most patriotic way.
It was just a year ago when he called all Americans to prepare for the Great American State Fair - a gigantic carnival of joy that would mark America's 250th birthday in true Trump fashion.
Various contingents could take part in a grand parade in front of millions of people visiting the fair - and Trump could build a "National Garden of American Heroes' with statues of important figures in American
history
.
Advertisement
Read more on the Irish Sun
This may include giant structures of George Washington, Neil Armstrong, and Muhammad Ali.
Use our
9
A giant portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping is carried atop a float at a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
9
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greets the crowd during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army
Credit: Reuters
Advertisement
9
Vladimir Putin at Russia's Victory Day military parade in central Moscow in 2024
Credit: AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Russia open to peace but must 'achieve goals' in Ukraine
Russia open to peace but must 'achieve goals' in Ukraine

RTÉ News​

time7 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Russia open to peace but must 'achieve goals' in Ukraine

Russia is open to peace with Ukraine but achieving "our goals" remains a priority, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Mr Peskov and other Russian officials have repeatedly rejected accusations from Kyiv and its western partners of stalling peace talks. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, with more drones launched in a single night than during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate. Mr Peskov told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin: "(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy. "The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear." Kremlin on peace conditions The Kremlin has insisted any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces, demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected. In his nightly address yesterday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his officials had proposed a new round of peace talks this week. Russian state media reported today that no date had yet been set for the negotiations but that Istanbul would likely remain the host city. Mr Trump threatened Russia on 14 July with steep tariffs and announced a rejuvenated pipeline for US weapons to reach Ukraine, hardening his stance towards Moscow after months of frustration following unsuccessful negotiations aimed at ending the war. Previous negotiations in Istanbul The direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul resulted in several rounds of prisoner exchanges, but little else. Mr Trump said he would implement "severe tariffs" unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. He provided few details on how they would be implemented, but suggested they would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. In addition, Mr Trump said European allies would buy "billions and billions" of dollars of US military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine, replenishing the besieged country's supplies of weapons. Included in the plan are Patriot air defence systems, a top priority for Ukraine as it fends off Russian drones and missiles. Russian drones shot down overnight Elsewhere, Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 of 57 Shahed-type and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, with seven more disappearing from radar. Two women were injured in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian region partly occupied by Russia, when a drone struck their house, according to the regional military administration. Two more civilians were injured in Izium, north-eastern Ukraine, after a drone hit a residential building, local Ukrainian officials said. Later, drones struck a leafy square in the centre of Sumy, wounding a woman and her seven-year-old son, officials said. The strike also damaged a power line, leaving some 100 households without electricity, according to Serhii Krivosheienko of the municipal military administration. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said its forces had shot down 93 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory overnight, including at least 15 that appeared to be headed for Moscow. Ten more drones were downed on the approach to the capital today, according to mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He said one drone had struck a residential building in Zelenograd, on the outskirts of Moscow, damaging an apartment but causing no casualties.

US commerce secretary Lutnick 'confident we'll get a deal done' with EU
US commerce secretary Lutnick 'confident we'll get a deal done' with EU

Irish Examiner

time11 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

US commerce secretary Lutnick 'confident we'll get a deal done' with EU

US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday he was confident the United States can secure a trade deal with the European Union, but August 1 is a hard deadline for tariffs to kick in. Lutnick said he had just gotten off the phone with European trade negotiators and there was "plenty of room" for agreement. "These are the two biggest trading partners in the world, talking to each other. We'll get a deal done. I am confident we'll get a deal done," Mr Lutnick said in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation." US president Donald Trump threatened on July 12 to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, after weeks of negotiations with the major US trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal. Mr Lutnick said that was a hard deadline. "Nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1, but they're going to start paying the tariffs on August 1," he said on CBS. Mr Trump announced the tariffs in a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. He sent letters to other trading partners including Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% to 50%, as well as a 50% tariff on copper. Mr Lutnick also said he expected Mr Trump to renegotiate the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) signed during Mr Trump's first White House term in 2017-21. Barring any major changes, USMCA-compliant goods from Mexico and Canada are exempt from tariffs. "I think the president is absolutely going to renegotiate USMCA, but that's a year from today," Mr Lutnick said. Reuters

John Whelan: Trade war leaves Ireland's booming aviation sector vulnerable
John Whelan: Trade war leaves Ireland's booming aviation sector vulnerable

Irish Examiner

time13 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

John Whelan: Trade war leaves Ireland's booming aviation sector vulnerable

US president Donald Trump's threat of a 30% tariff on EU goods from August 1 puts Ireland's continued growth narrative at risk. Exporters of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and drink, and aviation services consider a 30% tariffs on their sales to the US would be very damaging and, in many instances, make supplying their customers across the Atlantic unsustainable. However, having been caught off guard by a letter threatening the 30% duty on EU goods the weekend before last, the European Commission last week quickly tabled a plan to put counter tariffs worth €72bn on imports of US goods. Inevitably, this will hit the European Union's own economy, with Ireland potentially being one of the most impacted. The proposed EU retaliatory tariffs target imports of industrial goods from the US, including aircraft and aircraft parts, machinery, automotives, chemicals and plastics, and medical devices and equipment. Potential EU countermeasures on aircraft imports, coupled with retaliation from the US administration, could risk Ireland's position as a world-leading hub in aviation. Aviation is a highly important part of the Irish trading base, covering aircraf and parts and set to be heavily impacted by EU countermeasures. Potential EU import restrictions on these goods, worth nearly €14bn, according to a document from the Central Statistics Office, would be very damaging to many companies in the sector, including the lucrative aircraft leasing sector. A recent report by aviation investment group Irelandia said the industry in Ireland accounts for 37% of the global commercial fleet, making Ireland a central player in the world's air transport infrastructure. Within the EU member states, the country with the biggest US aircraft imports in 2024 was Ireland, followed by France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, imports new aircraft on a regular basis. A 30% import duty would significantly increase the cost of acquiring these new planes. Increased import costs would also likely lead to higher operating expenses for Ryanair. This could affect their ability to maintain their low-cost model and potentially lead to fare increases or reduced profitability. If the cost of new aircraft becomes prohibitive, it could also delay Ryanair's expansion plans, potentially affecting the addition of new routes and increased flights on existing routes. Furthermore, increased costs might lead to a reduction in the number of aircraft available for service, potentially impacting their operational efficiency. Ryanair has already threatened to cancel orders for hundreds of Boeing aircraft if a US tariff war leads to materially higher prices, and said it could look at alternative suppliers, including Chinese plane maker COMAC. However, this will still leave Ryanair exposed to higher costs on Boeing-related maintenance, repair, and overhaul, all increasingly critical with the growth of their fleet. A new import tariff would add to these challenges, potentially exacerbating existing operational difficulties. Aviation between the US and EU is a highly interconnected sector. French multinational aerospace and defence company Thales with a manufacturing base in Northern Ireland, and supplies US-based Boeing and European competitor Airbus with flight management systems and cockpit displays. In exchange, US aerospace giant Honeywell provides flight management systems for Airbus. Hence, the EU's potential retaliatory tariffs on US-made aircraft could escalate the trade war to impact a wider range of aviation products exported to the US. Eurostat figures show Boeing earned €7.5bn of its revenues from Europe in 2024. Airbus had sales of €16bn to the US last year. Future sales would likely be caught in the crossfire. Ireland is already facing a serious hit to its economy due to potentially high tariffs on exports to the US after the August 1 deadline. After Germany, Ireland could be the most affected economies in the EU. Retaliatory actions by the EU could then be more damaging than increased US tariffs on exports. Brussels says it is still seeking a deal to avoid a tit-for-tat escalation in the trade war but is poised to retaliate if needed. Preparations for retaliation are underway. Some commentators believe it is time for the EU to put its guns on the table in the tariff spat and show strength and determination. But there may be extensive consequences. Brussels-based think tank Bruegel has estimated that Ireland's cumulative real GDP loss, due to the total impact of US tariffs, could be 3% by 2028.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store