The United States government is planning to hold a military parade on June 14th to celebrate the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Army.
A senior official at the White House has confirmed this plan to the sister media outlet NewsNation of The Hill.
Washington City Paper was the first to report on this event, stating that the parade showcasing military might will start from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and proceed approximately 4 miles to reach the White House.
The concept of this parade can be traced back to Trump’s visit to France in 2017 when he witnessed the Bastille Day parade and was impressed by the display of heavy military equipment. Reports suggest that he told French President Emmanuel Macron, “We have to try to outdo them (the French parade).”
The Pentagon has not yet disclosed the specific details of the parade. However, such events are likely to be planned by the Army Command responsible for major ceremonies such as presidential inaugurations and state funerals.
According to reports, a military parade of this scale will require coordination among six branches of the military as well as various federal agencies and local governments.
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis stated that the White House notified local authorities last Friday, with 10 weeks remaining until the event. He noted that the “specific scale of the parade is not yet clear,” and the White House has not provided detailed information.
As early as Trump’s first term in 2018, he had pushed for a large military parade. According to the Associated Press, the Department of Defense estimated the cost of the event at a whopping $92 million, with slow preparations ultimately leading to its cancellation. The original plan included displays of tanks, fighter jets, and historic military aircraft.
Subsequently, in 2019, Trump successfully arranged for military equipment to be showcased during the “Salute to America” event on the U.S. Independence Day, featuring tanks and aircraft. However, in the following year’s event, tanks were no longer part of the display.