The Army is set to celebrate 250 years with a parade that coincides with Trump's birthday
The massive military parade that President Donald Trump has long wanted is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday evening, with tanks, bands and thousands of troops.
And the biggest question marks are whether it will be overshadowed or delayed by either the weather in Washington or planned protests elsewhere around the country.
Falling on Trump's 79th birthday, the parade was added just a few weeks ago to the Army's long-planned 250th anniversary celebration. It has triggered criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates down along the route.
The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use his fighting forces in ways other U.S. presidents have typically avoided, inviting an array of lawsuits and accusations that he is politicizing the military.
He has deployed the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests tied to immigration raids. It marks the first time in 60 years that a president activated the National Guard on federal orders inside a state without a governor's permission, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit to stop the deployments.
Earlier in the week, Trump raised eyebrows during a speech at Fort Bragg when members of the 82nd Airborne Division were directed to stand behind Trump and they booed and cheered during his incendiary remarks, including condemnation of his predecessor, Joe Biden. There also was a pop-up 'Make America Great Again' merchandise stand nearby selling souvenirs to troops in uniform.
The Defense Department has a doctrine that prohibits troops from participating in political activity while in uniform. Members of Congress and military leaders have expressed concerns about the political displays during the speech at Fort Bragg.
Trump so far has shrugged off concerns about the parade cost, the rainy forecast and the potential for protests.
'What a day it will be!!!' Trump wrote on his social media site, adding later that he hoped the weather would cooperate but that if it doesn't, 'that brings you good luck. That's OK too. Doesn't matter. Doesn't affect the tanks at all. Doesn't affect the soldiers. They're used to it. They're tough. Smart.'
As for the protests, he warned that 'they will be met with very big force.'
The 'No Kings' rallies planned in hundreds of cities nationwide are meant to counter what organizers say are Trump's plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. No protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., however, and officials have said they so far have no indication of any security threat.
About 6 in 10 Americans say Saturday's parade is 'not a good use' of government money, including the vast majority of people, 78%, who neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The parade will wind down Constitution Avenue, which is already lined with security fencing and barriers. Army helicopters and aircraft will fly above, and the march will be capped off by a parachute jump, a concert featuring 'God Bless the U.S.A.' singer Lee Greenwood and fireworks.
With rain expected, there is a chance the parade could be interrupted by thunderstorms.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has said the march will go on rain or shine. But it could be delayed if there is lightning, with authorities quick to empty the expansive National Mall if it happens during major events.
The parade fulfills Trump's expressed desire for a big parade that he tried to get done in his first presidential term after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Élysées, he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend the festival and parade. The festival will begin around 9:30 a.m. EDT and feature fitness competitions, demonstrations, equipment displays, music and a cake-cutting ceremony.
The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT, but parts of it — including the horse-drawn caissons and other units — start at the Pentagon, head over a bridge and meet up with some of the heavier tanks and equipment. Officials did not want the more-than-60-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles crossing the bridge.
Timed down to the minute, the march will be divided into sections by history — with equipment and troops in full dress from each period.
It will include a total of 6,169 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery, while 62 aircraft fly overhead.
At the end of the parade, Trump will swear in 250 new or reenlisting troops, and the Army's Golden Knights parachute team will jump onto the Mall. That will be followed by the concert and fireworks.
____
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
.jpg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Two Minnesota lawmakers gunned down and manifesto discovered: what we know about the ‘politically motivated' shooting
Minnesota is reeling after a deadly overnight attack on state lawmakers that authorities are calling a 'politically motivated' assassination. State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park early Saturday morning. Just hours earlier, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times in a similar attack at their nearby residence. Authorities are 'cautiously optimistic' they will survive, Gov. Tim Walz said in a news conference. The gunman, who remains at large, was impersonating a police officer, authorities said. Inside his car, they found a manifesto naming numerous other lawmakers and public officials. A community is now sheltering in place as the manhunt for the suspect continues. Who was Melissa Hortman? Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and former Speaker of the Minnesota House, was a formidable public servant,' Gov. Walz said of his friend. 'She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place,' he continued. 'She is irreplaceable.' Hortman, 55, who was in her 11th term, was elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2004. She is married and has two children. 'Melissa Hortman represented the best of Minnesota," DFL party chair Richard Carlbom said in a statement. 'She was a tireless, devoted public servant who deeply loved our state and devoted her life to making it a better place. The warmth and kindness she showed to her family and friends were matched only by her fierce commitment to improving the lives of those she had never even met." Who is John Hoffman? John Hoffman, 60, and his wife were shot around 2 a.m. at their home in nearby Champlin. Both underwent surgery and are expected to survive. Hoffman, also a Democrat, is a state senator first elected in 2012 who represents Minnesota Senate District 34, which covers a swath of the northwest Twin Cities suburbs, including Rogers and Champlin. Hoffman served as chair of the Human Services Committee, and also served on committees for energy, environment and health and human services. He has one child. 'These were not random acts of violence,' Gov. Walz said at a press conference. 'This was targeted political violence. And it's a dark day for Minnesota and for democracy.' Manhunt underway for suspect The suspect, who has not been identified, is described as a white male with brown hair, and was last seen wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants. He was reportedly driving a black SUV with emergency lights, fully outfitted to be identical to a real police vehicle. He also wore a fake badge and full police-style uniform. Authorities say the gunman knocked on the victims' doors, posed as a police officer, and opened fire when they came outside. The impersonation has deeply disturbed law enforcement officials. 'This individual exploited the trust that comes with our uniform,' said Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. 'It's a betrayal that strikes at the heart of public safety.' The first shooting occurred around 2 a.m. at Sen. Hoffman's home. He and his wife were both shot multiple times. A short time later, around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to the Hortman residence, where a man dressed as a police officer was found at the door. When police approached, he shot Mark Hortman, fired at officers, and then ran into the home. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside the house and the suspect escaped out the back. Residents in the Brooklyn Park and Champlin areas are urged to remain indoors and call 911 if they see anything suspicious. A shelter-in-place order is in place around Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park. A chilling manifesto names other lawmakers A manifesto listing multiple public officials as potential targets was found in the suspect's vehicle, investigators said. Officials believe this document confirms the attacks were politically driven. Superintendent Drew Evans of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension confirmed that the manifesto points to a planned and ideologically motivated attack. 'This was not spontaneous,' he said. 'This was a deliberate act targeting political leaders.' Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said that the suspect's disguise was so convincing 'you would assume they were a real officer if they walked into this room.' Officials are urging the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity immediately. 'A dark day for Minnesota and for democracy' Flags across Minnesota have been lowered to half-staff and tributes are pouring in for Rep. Hortman, who served her district since 2004, and for the Hoffmans, who remain hospitalized. 'This is a moment for unity, not division,' Gov. Walz said. 'We will not allow fear or intimidation to define who we are as Minnesotans or as Americans.' President Donald Trump said the FBI is involved in the investigation. 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota,' he said in a statement. 'This is a dark day today for Minnesota and for democracy,' Bob Jacobson, the Commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Minnesota, said during a news conference this morning. 'We will not allow fear or violence to define who we are, or how we move forward.' 'The suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms that our uniforms are meant to represent, that the trail is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,' Jacobson continued. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a longtime colleague of both victims, called the shootings 'a stunning act of violence.' Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a targeted assassination attempt in 2011, also responded along with a picture of herself with Hortman. 'My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well,' she wrote. 'An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself.'
The Guardian
32 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ice reportedly shifting away from immigration raids on farms and hotels
The Trump administration deportation campaign is reportedly shifting its focus away from raids on the agricultural and hospitality sectors after Donald Trump conceded this week that his immigration policies are hurting the farming and hotel industries. The New York Times reported that an internal email was sent on Thursday by Tatum King, a senior official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), to regional department leaders at Homeland Security Investigations, directing them to stop workplace immigration enforcement actions unless related to criminal investigations. 'Effective today, please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels,' King wrote in the guidance, according to the outlet. The email explained that investigations involving 'human trafficking, money laundering, drug smuggling into these industries are OK', but added that agents were not to make arrests of 'noncriminal collaterals'. 'We will follow the president's direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America's streets,' Tricia McLaughlin, a homeland security department spokesperson, said in a statement to the outlet. The guidance is a marked shift in emphasis and comes after a week-long protests in Los Angeles over an Ice raid on a garment factory in the city triggered protests when the national guard, and later the marines, were ordered into the city over the objections of California's governor, Gavin Newsom. Further protests over Ice raids are expected on Saturday. The modification in guidance comes after Trump said on Thursday that changes to protect certain industries were in the works. 'Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!' he added in the post. Trump campaigned on a platform of mass deportations of undocumented migrants with criminal records or histories, but that expanded in recent weeks as Ice came under White House pressure to increase its daily quota of arrests to 3,000 and the policy appeared to shift to arresting undocumented immigrants with no criminal records. That potentially affected tens of thousands of workers embedded in the agriculture, construction and hospitality sectors and raised the politically indigestible specter of family separations. The elevated arrest targets were publicly promoted by Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, who reportedly told Ice officials in late May they needed to 'just go out there and arrest illegal aliens'. In the new Ice guidance, later confirmed by the Wall Street Journal, King appeared to acknowledge that the Miller's quota targets would be affected. 'We acknowledge that by taking this off the table, that we are eliminating a significant # of potential targets,' he wrote. Trump was reportedly warned by his agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, that farmers – a key Republican-supporting constituency – were concerned that Ice enforcement would affect their businesses. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that businesses were being hurt because sweeps of non-criminal foreign workers were driving changes in shopping behavior. The outlet cited a 3% drop in Coca-Cola's sales volume over the first three months of the year, in part because of a pullback by Hispanic shoppers. Colgate-Palmolive, Modelo brewer Constellation Brands, and restaurant chains including Wingstop and El Pollo Loco have also said that decreased spending by Hispanic consumers had hurt sales. 'We have seen a huge decline in traffic,' Régis Schultz, CEO of JD Sports, the parent company of the Hispanic-targeting Shoe Palace retail chain, told analysts in May. 'You can see definitively the impact' of the immigration policy, he added.
Reuters
34 minutes ago
- Reuters
Putin speaks to Trump, condemns Israel's strikes on Iran, Kremlin says
MOSCOW, June 14 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump for 50 minutes on Saturday, condemning the Israeli military operation against Iran and expressing concern about the risks of escalation, the Kremlin said. "Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about a possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. Trump, for his part, described events in the Middle East as "very alarming," according to Ushakov. But the two leaders said they do not rule out a return to the negotiating track on Iran's nuclear programme, Ushakov said. On Ukraine, Putin told the U.S. leader that Russia was ready to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians after June 22, according to state news agency RIA. Trump reiterated his interest in a speedy resolution to the conflict, the Kremlin aide said. Putin also congratulated Trump on his 79th birthday.
