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Economic Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Tanks, thunder, and Trump: The military parade that split America
Reuters A Stryker armored vehicle is being prepared for a military parade to commemorate the U.S. Army's 250th Birthday in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Amid traffic jams, military flyovers, and thousands of troops marching down Constitution Avenue, the United States Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday. But it wasn't just about history. It was also President Donald Trump's 79th birthday — a detail that has split public opinion and overshadowed the event's original scale was massive: 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles including tanks and howitzers, and more than 50 aircraft. Fighter jets, including the Air Force's Thunderbirds — a last-minute addition at Trump's request — were among the parade's highlights.'I think it's time for us to celebrate a little bit. You know, we've had a lot of victories,' Trump said earlier in the week. 'It is my birthday, but I'm not celebrating my birthday,' he insisted, pointing instead to Flag Day. It was the first national military parade of this scale since 1991, when troops returned home victorious from the Gulf War. Among the highlights: tanks on urban roads, a White House parachute flag-drop, and a flyover. Trump, stationed at his own reviewing stand, called it 'a celebration of our country' and 'of the Army, actually.' But protests are mounting, weather warnings loomed, and concerns about the parade's cost and purpose deepened — especially as it occurred while the U.S. military engages in controversial operations at home and abroad. The idea took root last year. At a long-running Army pageant called the 'Twilight Tattoo,' General Randy George and Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler were hosting media executives when one leaned over and said, 'This would make great television,' according to there, things escalated. The Army was already looking for ways to mark its milestone. The suggestion of turning their ceremonial show into a full-blown parade landed without resistance.'We wanted to reintroduce this nation's Army to the American people,' Butler said. 'To do that, we thought we needed to be in their living rooms and on their phones. We needed something that would catch the national eye.'With Trump's interest piqued — a former media executive who had previously tried and failed to stage a military parade — the door opened. 'It was like knocking on an unlocked door,' said one planning everyone is clapping.A poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center shows nearly 60% of Americans think the parade is a poor use of government money. The Army has estimated its own logistics could cost up to $45 million. Security, air traffic closures, and city disruptions will drive the price higher.'I remain concerned about it, I have to tell you,' said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. 'These are, for the most part, local streets, and if they're rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds.'The city is already bracing for road closures, suspended flights, and potential damage to infrastructure. Tanks have been spotted rolling down Rhode Island Avenue, escorted by police. Steel plates and rubber pads have been deployed along the route to mitigate damage, according to Army spokesperson Heather J. Hagan, who said the expected road damage would be 'minimal.'The backlash hasn't been limited to cost. Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth, a former Army officer, called the parade 'Donald Trump's birthday parade,' accusing the president of exploiting the event for his own image. 'It's to stroke his own ego and make taxpayers foot the bill,' she said. Critics have compared the event to military displays in Russia or North Korea — performative demonstrations of power under authoritarian regimes. Local advisory commissioners have passed resolutions calling for the parade's cancellation, saying it reflects 'authoritarian governments more than democracies.'Samuel Port, a former Army logistics officer and now unemployed contractor, summed up a common sentiment: 'Trump is using this as an excuse to prop himself up. It demeans the soldiers because it's using them as a political prop.'The parade comes at a sensitive time. Just one day earlier, the United States began assisting Israel's defence against Iranian missile attacks. And earlier in the week, Trump deployed both National Guard and Marine forces to Southern California to suppress protests against immigration raids. The president bypassed state authority in doing so, drawing legal and political scrutiny. 'The President is deploying the American military to police the American people,' Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, told Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during hearings this week. 'Sending the Marines — not after foreign threats, but after American protesters... should stop every one of us cold.' According to a new NBC News/Decision Desk poll released Saturday morning, 64% of Americans disapprove of the parade. Many cite both the financial burden and the optics of military power being used domestically.'I wouldn't have done it,' said Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), likening the display to Soviet-era demonstrations. 'We were proud not to be that.'The parade also drew comparisons to past authoritarian spectacles. Trump, who has long admired large-scale military demonstrations, first pushed for a parade of this kind after visiting France's Bastille Day celebration in 2017. That effort stalled during his first term, but the 250th Army anniversary provided the perfect say this was not merely about honouring service. 'It's a stupid order,' said retired Rear Admiral Ken Carodine. 'But it's a legal order. Most of the guys organising or marching in this thing, it's the last thing they want to be doing.' Presidential historian Barbara Perry from the University of Virginia noted the personalisation of the event. 'Usually it's about the personnel,' she said. 'If [Trump] views it as 'his generals' or 'his military,' and ties it to his birthday — that's what's different.' Trump, however, insists the parade is not about him. 'It will be a parade like we haven't had in many, many decades here,' he said this week. 'And it's a celebration of our country.'Despite forecasts warning of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms, federal officials opted to proceed with the event as scheduled. The parade was set to begin at 6:30 p.m., following a day of commemorations along the National Trump, the parade marks a symbolic high point following his return to the presidency in the 2024 elections. Supporters see it as a reaffirmation of strength and patriotism. But detractors view it as a diversion from failed foreign policy pledges, especially regarding the wars in Ukraine and president had campaigned on promises to end these conflicts. But the parade's timing — against the backdrop of ongoing deployments and incomplete missions — raises questions about whether the event is celebrating victory, or distracting from the lack of have erupted in Washington and across the country, organised under the slogan 'No Kings.' Activists accuse the president of using military force to bolster his own has warned protesters that they 'will be met with very big force,' echoing his broader posture on dissent. That rhetoric has only intensified criticism that the commander-in-chief is merging military spectacle with authoritarian leaders are also frustrated. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concerns over costs and disruptions. Neighbourhood commissioners passed resolutions calling the parade 'a grotesque spectacle.' And with tanks rolling through streets that recently saw the forced removal of homeless encampments, many see the juxtaposition as deliberate.'It's appalling that we're spending $45 million on a parade after kicking out the most vulnerable residents of our neighbourhood,' said local commissioner Jim the parades following the Civil War, World Wars I and II, or even Desert Storm — all tied to clear victories — this event lacks a unifying triumph.'The U.S. is not coming off any war victory,' said Carodine. 'Nobody had a parade for the kids coming back from Afghanistan. That would have made a lot more sense than what we're doing tomorrow.'America's recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left a mixed legacy. The Afghanistan conflict formally ended in 2021 under a deal negotiated by Trump and executed by President Joe Biden. Many veterans returned home quietly, without recognition or some, this parade is a missed opportunity — one that honours political ambition more than military service.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tanks, thunder, and Trump: The military parade that split America
Amid traffic jams, military flyovers, and thousands of troops marching down Constitution Avenue, the United States Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday. But it wasn't just about history. It was also President Donald Trump's 79th birthday — a detail that has split public opinion and overshadowed the event's original intent. The scale was massive: 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles including tanks and howitzers, and more than 50 aircraft. Fighter jets, including the Air Force's Thunderbirds — a last-minute addition at Trump's request — were among the parade's highlights. 'I think it's time for us to celebrate a little bit. You know, we've had a lot of victories,' Trump said earlier in the week. 'It is my birthday, but I'm not celebrating my birthday,' he insisted, pointing instead to Flag Day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enlarged Prostate Has Nothing to Do with Age. Just Stop Doing This One Common Thing! Health Benefits Undo It was the first national military parade of this scale since 1991, when troops returned home victorious from the Gulf War. Among the highlights: tanks on urban roads, a White House parachute flag-drop, and a flyover. Trump, stationed at his own reviewing stand, called it 'a celebration of our country' and 'of the Army, actually.' But protests are mounting, weather warnings loomed, and concerns about the parade's cost and purpose deepened — especially as it occurred while the U.S. military engages in controversial operations at home and abroad. Live Events 'This would make great TV' The idea took root last year. At a long-running Army pageant called the 'Twilight Tattoo,' General Randy George and Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler were hosting media executives when one leaned over and said, 'This would make great television,' according to Butler. From there, things escalated. The Army was already looking for ways to mark its milestone. The suggestion of turning their ceremonial show into a full-blown parade landed without resistance. 'We wanted to reintroduce this nation's Army to the American people,' Butler said. 'To do that, we thought we needed to be in their living rooms and on their phones. We needed something that would catch the national eye.' With Trump's interest piqued — a former media executive who had previously tried and failed to stage a military parade — the door opened. 'It was like knocking on an unlocked door,' said one planning official. Millions in costs, disruptions, and doubts Not everyone is clapping. A poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center shows nearly 60% of Americans think the parade is a poor use of government money. The Army has estimated its own logistics could cost up to $45 million. Security, air traffic closures, and city disruptions will drive the price higher. 'I remain concerned about it, I have to tell you,' said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. 'These are, for the most part, local streets, and if they're rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds.' The city is already bracing for road closures, suspended flights, and potential damage to infrastructure. Tanks have been spotted rolling down Rhode Island Avenue, escorted by police. Steel plates and rubber pads have been deployed along the route to mitigate damage, according to Army spokesperson Heather J. Hagan, who said the expected road damage would be 'minimal.' 'A prop for the President' The backlash hasn't been limited to cost. Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth , a former Army officer, called the parade 'Donald Trump's birthday parade,' accusing the president of exploiting the event for his own image. 'It's to stroke his own ego and make taxpayers foot the bill,' she said. Critics have compared the event to military displays in Russia or North Korea — performative demonstrations of power under authoritarian regimes. Local advisory commissioners have passed resolutions calling for the parade's cancellation, saying it reflects 'authoritarian governments more than democracies.' Samuel Port, a former Army logistics officer and now unemployed contractor, summed up a common sentiment: 'Trump is using this as an excuse to prop himself up. It demeans the soldiers because it's using them as a political prop.' Flashpoints: Immigration raids, Iran aid and public disapproval The parade comes at a sensitive time. Just one day earlier, the United States began assisting Israel's defence against Iranian missile attacks. And earlier in the week, Trump deployed both National Guard and Marine forces to Southern California to suppress protests against immigration raids. The president bypassed state authority in doing so, drawing legal and political scrutiny. 'The President is deploying the American military to police the American people,' Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee , told Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during hearings this week. 'Sending the Marines — not after foreign threats, but after American protesters... should stop every one of us cold.' According to a new NBC News/Decision Desk poll released Saturday morning, 64% of Americans disapprove of the parade. Many cite both the financial burden and the optics of military power being used domestically. 'I wouldn't have done it,' said Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), likening the display to Soviet-era demonstrations. 'We were proud not to be that.' Pomp, power, and the President's image The parade also drew comparisons to past authoritarian spectacles. Trump, who has long admired large-scale military demonstrations, first pushed for a parade of this kind after visiting France's Bastille Day celebration in 2017. That effort stalled during his first term, but the 250th Army anniversary provided the perfect excuse. Critics say this was not merely about honouring service. 'It's a stupid order,' said retired Rear Admiral Ken Carodine. 'But it's a legal order. Most of the guys organising or marching in this thing, it's the last thing they want to be doing.' Presidential historian Barbara Perry from the University of Virginia noted the personalisation of the event. 'Usually it's about the personnel,' she said. 'If [Trump] views it as 'his generals' or 'his military,' and ties it to his birthday — that's what's different.' Trump, however, insists the parade is not about him. 'It will be a parade like we haven't had in many, many decades here,' he said this week. 'And it's a celebration of our country.' Weather threatens parade, not public backlash Despite forecasts warning of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms, federal officials opted to proceed with the event as scheduled. The parade was set to begin at 6:30 p.m., following a day of commemorations along the National Mall. For Trump, the parade marks a symbolic high point following his return to the presidency in the 2024 elections. Supporters see it as a reaffirmation of strength and patriotism. But detractors view it as a diversion from failed foreign policy pledges, especially regarding the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The president had campaigned on promises to end these conflicts. But the parade's timing — against the backdrop of ongoing deployments and incomplete missions — raises questions about whether the event is celebrating victory, or distracting from the lack of it. 'No Kings': Protesters reject militarisation Demonstrations have erupted in Washington and across the country, organised under the slogan 'No Kings.' Activists accuse the president of using military force to bolster his own image. Trump has warned protesters that they 'will be met with very big force,' echoing his broader posture on dissent. That rhetoric has only intensified criticism that the commander-in-chief is merging military spectacle with authoritarian messaging. Local leaders are also frustrated. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concerns over costs and disruptions. Neighbourhood commissioners passed resolutions calling the parade 'a grotesque spectacle.' And with tanks rolling through streets that recently saw the forced removal of homeless encampments, many see the juxtaposition as deliberate. 'It's appalling that we're spending $45 million on a parade after kicking out the most vulnerable residents of our neighbourhood,' said local commissioner Jim Malec. A parade for whom? Unlike the parades following the Civil War, World Wars I and II, or even Desert Storm — all tied to clear victories — this event lacks a unifying triumph. 'The U.S. is not coming off any war victory,' said Carodine. 'Nobody had a parade for the kids coming back from Afghanistan. That would have made a lot more sense than what we're doing tomorrow.' America's recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left a mixed legacy. The Afghanistan conflict formally ended in 2021 under a deal negotiated by Trump and executed by President Joe Biden. Many veterans returned home quietly, without recognition or celebration. For some, this parade is a missed opportunity — one that honours political ambition more than military service.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'This would make great TV': How Donald Trump got the parade he wanted
In June 2024, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and his aides were at a Virginia military base where the service was putting on one of its live-action shows for kids and families. The event -- a decades-long tradition known as the "Twilight Tattoo" -- was a spectacle. Soldiers from ceremonial units reenact the history of the Army, complete with Revolutionary War garb, music, theatrical vignettes and military pageantry, all meant to serve as a kind of salute to Army soldiers and their families. George and his top communications adviser, Col. Dave Butler, were attending with several media executives, when one of them leaned over. "This would make great television," the executive said, according to Butler. MORE: Democrats slam military parade as Trump's multimillion-dollar 'birthday party' George and his staff had already been talking about how to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday. Maybe, they thought, the National Park Service would let them host one of their live-action shows on the National Mall, the officials thought. After President Donald Trump took office and the June 14 birthday was getting closer, the Army began to toss around more ideas. One idea was to add tanks or other iconic Army equipment to an exhibit parked on the National Mall where tourists could learn about the Army's history of fighting the nation's wars. MORE: Trump warns 'any' protesters at military parade will be 'met with heavy force' Butler said he doesn't remember who first broached the idea of turning the Army's show into a parade. But once the idea was floated, no one seemed to push back. By June, the Army had a plan of what they would include: 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles, including dozens of tanks, 50 aircraft flying overhead including World War II-era planes and high-tech weaponry like rocket launchers. Trump, a former media executive himself, seemed game to the idea. One official involved in the planning described it like "knocking on an unlocked door." "We wanted to reintroduce this nation's Army to the American people," Butler said. "To do that, we thought we needed to be in their living rooms and on their phones. We needed something that would catch the national eye." MORE: What to know about 'No Kings Day' protests across US to counter Trump's military parade As the Army prepares for its birthday parade in downtown Washington on Saturday, not everyone is on board. About 6 in 10 Americans say that Saturday's parade is "not a good use" of government money, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The White House has not released an estimate of the parade's cost, with only the Army's portion of moving troops and equipment expected to cost up to $45 million. Security is expected to add significantly to the price tag. Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Army veteran who deployed with the Illinois National Guard during the Iraq War, said the money would be better spent on helping troops pay for essentials like child care. "Donald Trump's birthday parade has nothing to do with celebrating the Army's 250th birthday -- it's to stroke his own ego and make taxpayers foot the bill," said Duckworth. Duckworth and other Trump critics also note a military parade is often associated with countries like Russia and North Korea, where dictators march its soldiers and equipment through their streets. Advocates are organizing protests in cities other than Washington -- dubbed the "No Kings" protests. MORE: Trump's military parade: What to know about the Army anniversary event Trump, who turns 79 on Saturday, said he wants a military parade to show how great the country is. The president first pushed the idea in 2017 after attending the Bastille Day parade and celebration in France, saying he wanted to "try and top it." That effort was canceled after price estimates topped $90 million. When asked Thursday what he hopes the public will remember about the American parade, Trump said, "How great our country is, very simple, and how strong our military is." "We have the strongest military in the world," he added. According to Army officials involved in the planning effort, including Butler, the White House helped the Army plan the birthday celebration as an event focused on the Army's service to the nation. There are no plans currently, for example, to sing the president happy birthday. The president also is not expected to speak, leaving much of the festivities to the soldiers. According to the schedule, Trump will watch the tanks and soldiers march down Constitution Avenue from a viewing stand near the White House. Toward the end of the event, he will receive a flag from a soldier who will parachute on to the White House Ellipse. After that, the president will give the oath of enlistment to some 250 soldiers. The event concludes with fireworks over the Tidal Basin. Still, there are some of Trump's fingerprints on the event. In the final days leading up to the event, the White House made an unusual request. Trump, they said, wanted the Air Force to bring its fighter jets to the Army's party. If weather allows, the Thunderbirds will now do a flyover. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the move to let the Air Force participate in the Army's birthday parade. "The President wants the Army Birthday Parade to feature the strength, talent, and creativity of all our military servicemembers," she said in a statement. "The Thunderbirds flyover will inspire patriotism and awe for all who attend!" 'This would make great TV': How Donald Trump got the parade he wanted originally appeared on
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
This would make great TV': How Donald Trump got the parade he wanted
In June 2024, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and his aides were at a Virginia military base where the service was putting on one of its live-action shows for kids and families. The event -- a decades-long tradition known as the "Twilight Tattoo" -- was a spectacle. Soldiers from ceremonial units reenact the history of the Army, complete with Revolutionary War garb, music, theatrical vignettes and military pageantry, all meant to serve as a kind of salute to Army soldiers and their families. George and his top communications adviser, Col. Dave Butler, were attending with several media executives, when one of them leaned over. "This would make great television," the executive said, according to Butler. George and his staff had already been talking about how to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday. Maybe, they thought, the National Park Service would let them host one of their live-action shows on the National Mall, the officials thought. After President Donald Trump took office and the June 14 birthday was getting closer, the Army began to toss around more ideas. One idea was to add tanks or other iconic Army equipment to an exhibit parked on the National Mall where tourists could learn about the Army's history of fighting the nation's wars. Butler said he doesn't remember who first broached the idea of turning the Army's show into a parade. But once the idea was floated, no one seemed to push back. By June, the Army had a plan of what they would include: 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles, including dozens of tanks, 50 aircraft flying overhead including World War II-era planes and high-tech weaponry like rocket launchers. Trump, a former media executive himself, seemed game to the idea. One official involved in the planning described it like "knocking on an unlocked door." "We wanted to reintroduce this nation's Army to the American people," Butler said. "To do that, we thought we needed to be in their living rooms and on their phones. We needed something that would catch the national eye." Criticism over cost As the Army prepares for its birthday parade in downtown Washington on Saturday, not everyone is on board. About 6 in 10 Americans say that Saturday's parade is "not a good use" of government money, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The White House has not released an estimate of the parade's cost, with only the Army's portion of moving troops and equipment expected to cost up to $45 million. Security is expected to add significantly to the price tag. Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Army veteran who deployed with the Illinois National Guard during the Iraq War, said the money would be better spent on helping troops pay for essentials like child care. "Donald Trump's birthday parade has nothing to do with celebrating the Army's 250th birthday -- it's to stroke his own ego and make taxpayers foot the bill," said Duckworth. Duckworth and other Trump critics also note a military parade is often associated with countries like Russia and North Korea, where dictators march its soldiers and equipment through their streets. Advocates are organizing protests in cities other than Washington -- dubbed the "No Kings" protests. Trump, who turns 79 on Saturday, said he wants a military parade to show how great the country is. The president first pushed the idea in 2017 after attending the Bastille Day parade and celebration in France, saying he wanted to "try and top it." That effort was canceled after price estimates topped $90 million. When asked Thursday what he hopes the public will remember about the American parade, Trump said, "How great our country is, very simple, and how strong our military is." "We have the strongest military in the world," he added. According to Army officials involved in the planning effort, including Butler, the White House helped the Army plan the birthday celebration as an event focused on the Army's service to the nation. There are no plans currently, for example, to sing the president happy birthday. The president also is not expected to speak, leaving much of the festivities to the soldiers. According to the schedule, Trump will watch the tanks and soldiers march down Constitution Avenue from a viewing stand near the White House. Toward the end of the event, he will receive a flag from a soldier who will parachute on to the White House Ellipse. After that, the president will give the oath of enlistment to some 250 soldiers. The event concludes with fireworks over the Tidal Basin. Still, there are some of Trump's fingerprints on the event. In the final days leading up to the event, the White House made an unusual request. Trump, they said, wanted the Air Force to bring its fighter jets to the Army's party. If weather allows, the Thunderbirds will now do a flyover. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the move to let the Air Force participate in the Army's birthday parade. "The President wants the Army Birthday Parade to feature the strength, talent, and creativity of all our military servicemembers," she said in a statement. "The Thunderbirds flyover will inspire patriotism and awe for all who attend!"
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Battle tanks, 7,000 troops & WW2 planes … spotters guide to Trump's £30m birthday bash with 18-mile ring of steel
For years the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, but has failed to put up a working plan - until now DON STOP ME NOW Battle tanks, 7,000 troops & WW2 planes … spotters guide to Trump's £30m birthday bash with 18-mile ring of steel THOUSANDS of US troops flanked by battle tanks and advanced stealth jets will march on the streets as President Donald Trump kicks off a grand military parade - on his birthday. Patriotic tunes will fill the air in Washington DC as the commander in chief turns 79 - with the grand military spectacle set to commemorate the US Army's 250th anniversary. 12 Soldiers dressed in Revolutionary war-era uniforms charge during the US Army's Twilight Tattoo event Credit: AFP 12 Soldiers from the Marine Corps, lined up at the Veterans Day Parade in NYC 12 A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the US Army's 250th Birthday Celebration is seen near the US Capitol Credit: Reuters 12 US soldiers stand beside IAV Stryker armoured vehicles that are staged ahead of a 14 June military parade in Washington, DC Credit: EPA 12 The main stage for the US Army's 250th birthday celebration parade Credit: AFP 12 Trump turns 79 today Credit: AP The grandiose military parade will showcase soldiers, sailors, airmen and US Marines marching in their uniforms in front of thousands of spectators. As many as 7,000 troops and seven band contingents have reportedly been called to participate in the show. They will be accompanied by at least 150 military vehicles and some 50 aircraft. Some 2,000 civilians could also take march alongside the US military. READ MORE ON TRUMP ELON ROW Trump says he 'wasn't happy' with Elon Musk & reveals moment X boss turned on him And the whole celebration will be enclosed with an 18 mile ring of steel to protect the parade. Drones and a small army of cops will be on hand to keep order - with there expected to be protests across the country as part of "No Kings" day, a series of anti-Trump rallies by people objecting to the parade. It comes after a week of unrest in many cities - with anti-immigration raid riots in LA and protests against ICE across the US. June 14 this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army, also known as Army Day. The day also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. To celebrate both things in style, Trump planned to throw a military parade to showcase America's might. French President Emmanuel Macron joins 3,700 members of the military in Paris to mark Bastille Day, with guest Donald Trump For years, the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, but has failed to put up a working plan - until now. Plans are to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, and aircraft and missiles, just as Trump first envisioned the parade during his first term. The president, who is expected to give a speech during the parade, has pitched the occasion as a way to celebrate US power and service members' sacrifice. The parade will also showcase antics from different eras of the Army's history, right from the Revolutionary War in 1775 to the modern developments of the US Army. Contingent members are expected to wear corresponding uniforms and carry equipment respectively. Among the military equipment set to be flaunted are 26 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 27 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, two World War II Sherman tanks, a World War I-era Renault tank, eight CH-47 helicopters, 16 UH-60 Black Hawks and four WWII-era P-51 aircraft. While US officials have yet to release the cost of the planned parade, the figure is expected to reach up to a whopping $45million. 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. 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. 12 12 12 A US soldier works atop an Abrams tank that is staged in West Potomac Park ahead of a 14 June military parade Credit: EPA 12 Tanks rest on the back of a rail car before being used for the parade Credit: AFP 12 US Army soldiers on top of an M1 Abrams tank during a media preview of the Army's Parade Credit: AFP 12 A US Park Police officer poses for a photograph next to a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be used in the US Army's 250th Birthday Celebration Credit: Reuters "A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.' Trump appeared to tease the grand plan last month 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". Meanwhile, immigration rioters protesting against the Trump administration in LA could show up in Washington, experts fear. AMERICA'S 250th MAGA CELEBRATION By Sayan Bose, Foreign news reporter Trump is also planning a so-called Great American State Fair to celebrate the country's 250th birthday in 2026. 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. This may include giant structures of George Washington, Neil Armstrong, and Muhammad Ali. Use our interactive map here to find out about what attractions could be at the mega MAGA event. But Trump warned protestors would be "met with very big force" if they attempted to sow chaos during the parade. He told reporters from the White House: "For those people that want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force." Law enforcement agencies are preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to attend Saturday's parade, US Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool revealed. McCool said thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies across the country. Iran's foreign ministry has described further discussions as "meaningless", after Israeli attacks on the country. In comments carried by state television, spokesman Esmail Baghaei said: "The US did a job that made the talks become meaningless." However, he stopped short of ruling out the talks. The Mizan news agency, run by Iran's judiciary, quoted him as saying it is still "not clear what we decide about Sunday talks".
