(Photo credit: Gage Skidmore)
Detailed planning documents have revealed a massive military parade potentially set for June 14 — a date that marks both the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. According to newly obtained documents dated April 29 and 30, the Army is preparing for a large-scale event on the National Mall that could include more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven marching bands, and possibly thousands of civilians.
The documents, which have not yet been publicly released, offer a behind-the-scenes look at what could become a grand spectacle, echoing Trump’s long-standing desire for a large military parade. Though not officially approved, insiders familiar with the matter confirmed that the plans are under active development, pending a green light from the White House.
Notably, a parade of this magnitude could come with a hefty price tag. While the planning files don’t detail the cost, previous estimates for similar events have reached tens of millions of dollars. Expenses would cover the transport of military equipment, aircraft, and personnel from across the country, along with accommodations and logistics support for thousands of troops.
Trump previously attempted to stage a military parade during his first term, but the effort was scrapped due to high costs and concerns raised by Washington, D.C. officials about potential damage to city infrastructure caused by heavy armored vehicles, according to the Irish Star.
When pressed about the current status of the proposed parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren told the Associated Press on Thursday that “no final decisions have been made.”
Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesperson, emphasized the significance of the upcoming anniversary and the desire to make it a national celebration. “We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” he 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.”
On Thursday night, Trump posted on Truth Social without mentioning the June 14 parade plans. Instead, he wrote, “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” and proposed renaming existing military commemorations to “Victory Day for World War II” and “Victory Day for World War I.”
For now, the parade remains in planning stages, with revisions expected as discussions continue.
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