Why President Trump is hosting a military parade on his birthday: When is it and what to know about June 14
President Donald Trump's birthday is set to be celebrated with a massive military parade this weekend on June 14.
The parade, which will feature Army equipment, flyovers, musical performances and thousands of soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present, caps off a week of programming designed to celebrate the country's military might. Trump attempted to hold a military parade during his first term to commemorate the centennial of World War I but it was abandoned after pushback from D.C. officials over cost and logistics.
On June 6, Trump posted a video on Truth Social, inviting Americans to the June 14 parade, which he described as an "unforgettable" celebration, "one like you've never seen before."
"I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country," Trump said. "I don't think we've ever done one quite like this."
Here's what to expect from this weekend's parade.
The military parade is slated for June 14, in the heart of Washington, D.C., spanning six blocks and bisecting the National Mall. Organizers say the procession begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Though the parade is on the same day as the president's 79th birthday, event organizers and administration officials say it is solely to celebrate the U.S. Army.
Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said that Trump is planning 'an historic celebration of the Army's 250th birthday.'
'As one of the first events of the year-long celebration of our 250th anniversary, this commemorative parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of the brave men and women who have worn the uniform and devoted their lives to defending the greatest experiment in liberty known to man,' Haley said, not mentioning the president's birthday in the statement.
Plans for the June 14 parade began in earnest about a month ago. Yet as focus squares in on the U.S. Army's 250 years of existence, other branches are notably left out. The Navy, which also celebrates its 250th anniversary this year in October, has no plans for a similar parade, a spokesperson told USA TODAY. Neither does the Marine Corps, for its 250th in November.
President Trump's birthday is June 14, 1946. He and Joe Biden tied the record for the oldest person ever sworn in as president, both sworn in at age 78. Trump will be 79 on June 14, 2025.
While not currently the oldest person to hold the presidency — that honor belongs to his predecessor, Joe Biden — Trump will leave office in 2029 at 82 years and 7 months old. Biden was five months younger than that when he left office on Jan. 20.
Events from the 250th birthday celebration, including the parade, will be livestreamed on all U.S. Army social media platforms.
The massive military cavalcade will take place on Constitution Avenue NW near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., specifically between 23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW. A graphic of the complete parade route, created by USA TODAY, can be viewed here:
The latest price tag for the massive event is $40 million, as previously reported by USA TODAY.
The Army has promised to repair any city streets damaged by the parade, including those caused by the massive tankers rolling through, according to USA TODAY. Cleanup costs and police were not part of the estimate.
Celebrations and associated events are set to take place throughout the day at the Army Birthday Festival starting at 11 a.m. ET. Members of the public can visit, where there will be military demonstrations, equipment displays and live music throughout the day, Army event organizers say
There will be several musical acts throughout the June 14 celebration, including country singer Scotty Hasting, a former Army infantryman who was wounded in Afghanistan, country singer Noah Hicks of Nashville and DJ Nyla Symone.
The Army's birthday parade will cross in front of Trump's viewing stand on Constitution Avenue, just south of the White House, around sundown. The president is also expected to attend an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony after the parade. A parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights and a fireworks display and evening concert will conclude the festivities.
Flag Day is a national holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States, which occurred on June 14, 1777. Although the parade will take place on Flag Day, the focus will instead be on the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What time is Donald Trump's military parade? Route, details
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