On June 14, Washington, D.C., will host a big parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. However, there’s a catch: that same day is also Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, which raises questions about whether the event is truly about the Army or more about Trump.
The military says it’s all about celebrating 250 years of Army history. But some signs tell a different story.
One example is a plan for the Army’s parachute team, the Golden Knights, to fly down and hand Trump an American flag during the parade, making it feel more like a birthday gift than a military tradition.
According to The New York Times, Army officials say they won’t sing “Happy Birthday” to Trump during the event. But is that enough to show this isn’t really about him?
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Let’s look at the facts.
The Army did not have a parade for its 200th anniversary. The last major military parade in Washington, D.C., occurred in 1991, following the U.S. victory in the Gulf War. There were no plans for a 250th-anniversary parade until Trump retook office.
And what’s being planned is huge. The parade will feature 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker combat vehicles, around 6,700 soldiers marching, and 50 helicopters flying overhead. In addition, there will be 34 horses, two mules, and even a dog taking part in the procession.
That’s a massive show of military power rolling through the city, with a cost estimated between $25 million and $45 million. This amount does not include cleanup or repairs needed after the tanks crush the roads.
“It’s a lot of money,” said Army spokesman Steve Warren. “But I think that amount is dwarfed by 250 years of service and sacrifice by America’s Army.”
But not everyone agrees with that logic. Critics argue that this appears more like a personal show for Trump than a celebration of the Army.
Risa Brooks, a political science professor at Marquette University, warned,
“Having tanks rolling down streets of the capital doesn’t look like something consistent with the tradition of a professional, highly capable military.”
“It looks instead like a military that is politicized and turning inwardly.”
In simple terms, it resembles something more akin to a dictatorship than a democracy.
In 2020, Trump hosted the “Salute to America” event on July 4, featuring the Golden Knights and flyovers from fighter jets. That event cost millions and resembled a campaign rally more than anything else.
And now, as veterans speak out about Trump’s massive cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the idea of spending millions on tanks and decorations feels hard to defend.
Even more confusing is Trump’s role in the event. He is expected to watch from a private stand near the White House, but no one has confirmed if he will accept the flag from the parachute team there. Despite this, photos of Trump saluting tanks will likely flood social media, making it seem like the whole event was staged for him.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
