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Int'l Business Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Tanks, Troops And Trump: D.C. Gears Up For Controversial Military Spectacle
A massive military parade is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm ET on Saturday along Constitution Avenue NW near the National Mall, commemorating the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump's 79th birthday and Flag Day, according to The Guardian. Estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, the event has sparked controversy and protests. The parade will span from 23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW and feature 6,600 to 7,500 troops, 150 vehicles—including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and 4 Paladin howitzers—alongside 50 aircraft such as Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. The procession will also include 34 horses, two mules and one dog, according to Yahoo News. The U.S. Army's Golden Knights will parachute in to present a flag to Trump, followed by a concert featuring country singers Scotty Hasting, Noah Hicks and DJ Nyla Symone. To minimize street damage from heavy vehicles, the Army plans to use rubber pads and steel plates and will oversee repairs, per The Guardian. Originally intended as a small festival for 300 people, the event expanded significantly after Trump's election, evolving into a full-scale spectacle with rocket launchers and missiles, according to The Guardian. Inspired by France's Bastille Day parade, Trump has long advocated for such a display, though a 2018 attempt was canceled due to costs. Calling the event "unforgettable" on Truth Social, he invited Americans to attend, Yahoo News reported. Critics have condemned the parade as authoritarian. California Governor Gavin Newsom called it a "vulgar display" for Trump's birthday, likening it to dictatorial spectacles. Rick Wilson of the Lincoln Project compared it to parades in North Korea and Russia, per The Guardian. A poll found 60% of U.S. adults view the parade as a misuse of public funds. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton criticized it as mimicking authoritarian pageantry. The event follows Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and Marines for anti-immigration raids in Los Angeles, fueling concerns about militarized suppression, The Guardian reported. "No Kings" protests, expected to draw millions, are planned in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago, with thousands already gathering at Atlanta's Liberty Plaza. No demonstrations are scheduled in D.C. to prevent potential clashes, according to Sky News. Trump has warned that protesters will face a "very big force." Saturday's program will also include a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a fitness competition, and an Army festival with NFL players and military equipment displays, per Yahoo News. Up to 200,000 attendees are anticipated, with 18 miles of fencing and 175 metal detectors deployed, Sky News reported. A thunderstorm warning could disrupt the parade, with lightning potentially forcing cancellation depending on Trump's availability, The Guardian noted. This marks the first military parade of its kind since 1991, raising concerns about infrastructure damage and the politicization of the armed forces. Former Army officer Samuel Port argued the event serves Trump's personal interests. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, citing potential damage to city streets, said the city will seek federal reimbursement. The parade will be broadcast live on U.S. Army social media, major networks including NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News (starting at 6 p.m. CST), as well as on The Tennessean's YouTube channel, Yahoo News reported. As D.C. braces for this divisive display, the national debate over its democratic implications continues to escalate.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's military parade: What to expect as thousands of troops and dozens of tanks march in D.C. this weekend
The Trump administration this week is sending military personnel and hardware to both coasts for very different reasons. At the same time that Marines and National Guard troops are headed west to respond to protests in Los Angeles, others are heading east to Washington, D.C., to take part in a lavish parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary. Though Saturday's parade happens to fall on President Trump's 79th birthday, its official purpose is to 'reflect on the rich history and legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication' of the U.S. Army. 'I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country,' Trump said in a video message posted to Truth Social last week. 'It's gonna be something very, very special.' Here's what to expect: The parade will travel in a straight line through the heart of the nation's capital. It will travel along Constitution Ave., starting near the Lincoln Memorial and making its way along the National Mall until reaching its conclusion just past the White House. The procession will reportedly feature a variety of modern military vehicles, including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and four Paladin self-propelled howitzer cannons. There will also be Sherman tanks, anti-tank guns and other equipment from World War II. Chinook, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters will be among the 62 total aircraft to perform flyovers during the event. More than 7,000 soldiers will march in the parade, dressed in historic uniforms from, in Trump's words, 'every major war since the revolution.' According to ABC News, 34 horses, two mules, one wagon and a dog will also take part. In addition to the parade, the Army will also be holding what it's calling a 'Birthday Festival' a few blocks away from the end of the parade route. The festival will kick off with a fitness competition on Saturday morning and will feature opportunities for the public to see more military equipment up close, speak to soldiers and view equipment demonstrations. Several musical acts will perform over the course of the day, including country singers Noah Hicks and Scotty Hasting as well as DJ Nyla Symone. At the conclusion of the parade, which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. local time, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team is expected to present Trump with a folded flag after air-dropping onto White House grounds. Trump is then slated to administer an enlistment ceremony for 250 soldiers. There are reports that the president will address the crowd at some point in the evening. The day's events will end with a fireworks display. Trump expressed interest in hosting a grand military parade during his first term, but resistance from within the Pentagon scuttled the idea. Now with staunch ally Pete Hegseth running the Department of Defense, Trump is getting the parade he hoped for. The concerns that kept it from happening during his previous administration have not gone away, however. Estimates have put the price tag for the parade at $45 million, though the final expense could be significantly higher because the Army is on the hook for fixing any damage its heavy vehicles do to D.C. streets. Trump told NBC that the cost of the event was 'peanuts' compared to the value of doing it. But critics have pushed back, arguing that the money should instead go to essential government services, which Trump's administration has slashed dramatically since the start of his second term. While Trump insists that the parade is being held to honor the Army, Democrats have accused him of using that anniversary as a smokescreen for throwing himself a grand birthday celebration at taxpayer expense. 'Donald Trump may imagine himself an all-powerful ruler, but he is a president, not a potentate, and the American people don't pay tribute to him as if he were a king,' said Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, who introduced a bill that would prohibit official presidential birthday celebrations in the future. California Sen. Adam Schiff, a frequent Trump foil, accused the president of putting on a 'dictator-style military parade' similar to those held by authoritarian leaders in countries like North Korea and Russia. Hundreds of No Kings protests — aimed at countering what organizers call the 'authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy' of Trump's second presidency — are being planned in cities across the country in response to the parade. Trump said Tuesday that anyone protesting the parade 'will be met with very big force.' But organizers have chosen not to hold a No Kings rally in D.C. on Saturday in order to 'make action everywhere else the story of America that day.' As for veterans, they appear divided over whether the parade is truly about honoring their commitment to the country or if it's just a veiled way of glorifying Trump. One Army veteran told the AP that the event is 'embarrassing' and 'unnecessary,' while another said that the president 'understands the importance' of celebrating the branch's 350-year history, 'not only for the Army, but for the nation.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's military parade: What to expect as thousands of troops and dozens of tanks march in D.C. this weekend
The Trump administration this week is sending military personnel and hardware to both coasts for very different reasons. At the same time that Marines and National Guard troops are headed west to respond to protests in Los Angeles, others are heading east to Washington, D.C., to take part in a lavish parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary. Though Saturday's parade happens to fall on President Trump's 79th birthday, its official purpose is to 'reflect on the rich history and legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication' of the U.S. Army. 'I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country,' Trump said in a video message posted to Truth Social last week. 'It's gonna be something very, very special.' Here's what to expect: The parade will travel in a straight line through the heart of the nation's capital. It will travel along Constitution Ave., starting near the Lincoln Memorial and making its way along the National Mall until reaching its conclusion just past the White House. The procession will reportedly feature a variety of modern military vehicles, including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and four Paladin self-propelled howitzer cannons. There will also be Sherman tanks, anti-tank guns and other equipment from World War II. Chinook, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters will be among the 62 total aircraft to perform flyovers during the event. More than 7,000 soldiers will march in the parade, dressed in historic uniforms from, in Trump's words, 'every major war since the revolution.' According to ABC News, 34 horses, two mules, one wagon and a dog will also take part. In addition to the parade, the Army will also be holding what it's calling a 'Birthday Festival' a few blocks away from the end of the parade route. The festival will kick off with a fitness competition on Saturday morning and will feature opportunities for the public to see more military equipment up close, speak to soldiers and view equipment demonstrations. Several musical acts will perform over the course of the day, including country singers Noah Hicks and Scotty Hasting as well as DJ Nyla Symone. At the conclusion of the parade, which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. local time, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team is expected to present Trump with a folded flag after air-dropping onto White House grounds. Trump is then slated to administer an enlistment ceremony for 250 soldiers. There are reports that the president will address the crowd at some point in the evening. The day's events will end with a fireworks display. Trump expressed interest in hosting a grand military parade during his first term, but resistance from within the Pentagon scuttled the idea. Now with staunch ally Pete Hegseth running the Department of Defense, Trump is getting the parade he hoped for. The concerns that kept it from happening during his previous administration have not gone away, however. Estimates have put the price tag for the parade at $45 million, though the final expense could be significantly higher because the Army is on the hook for fixing any damage its heavy vehicles do to D.C. streets. Trump told NBC that the cost of the event was 'peanuts' compared to the value of doing it. But critics have pushed back, arguing that the money should instead go to essential government services, which Trump's administration has slashed dramatically since the start of his second term. While Trump insists that the parade is being held to honor the Army, Democrats have accused him of using that anniversary as a smokescreen for throwing himself a grand birthday celebration at taxpayer expense. 'Donald Trump may imagine himself an all-powerful ruler, but he is a president, not a potentate, and the American people don't pay tribute to him as if he were a king,' said Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, who introduced a bill that would prohibit official presidential birthday celebrations in the future. California Sen. Adam Schiff, a frequent Trump foil, accused the president of putting on a 'dictator-style military parade' similar to those held by authoritarian leaders in countries like North Korea and Russia. Hundreds of No Kings protests — aimed at countering what organizers call the 'authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy' of Trump's second presidency — are being planned in cities across the country in response to the parade. Trump said Tuesday that anyone protesting the parade 'will be met with very big force.' But organizers have chosen not to hold a No Kings rally in D.C. on Saturday in order to 'make action everywhere else the story of America that day.' As for veterans, they appear divided over whether the parade is truly about honoring their commitment to the country or if it's just a veiled way of glorifying Trump. One Army veteran told the AP that the event is 'embarrassing' and 'unnecessary,' while another said that the president 'understands the importance' of celebrating the branch's 350-year history, 'not only for the Army, but for the nation.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands of troops, dozens of tanks, two mules and a dog: What to expect from Trump's big military parade this weekend
The Trump administration this week is sending military personnel and hardware to both coasts for very different reasons. At the same time that Marines and National Guard troops are headed west to respond to protests in Los Angeles, others are heading east to Washington, D.C., to take part in a lavish parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary. Though Saturday's parade happens to fall on President Trump's 79th birthday, its official purpose is to 'reflect on the rich history and legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication' of the U.S. Army. 'I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country,' Trump said in a video message posted to Truth Social last week. 'It's gonna be something very, very special.' Here's what to expect: The parade will travel in a straight line through the heart of the nation's capital. It will travel along Constitution Ave., starting near the Lincoln Memorial and making its way along the National Mall until reaching its conclusion just past the White House. The procession will reportedly feature a variety of modern military vehicles, including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and four Paladin self-propelled howitzer cannons. There will also be Sherman tanks, anti-tank guns and other equipment from World War II. Chinook, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters will be among the 62 total aircraft to perform flyovers during the event. More than 7,000 soldiers will march in the parade, dressed in historic uniforms from, in Trump's words, 'every major war since the revolution.' According to ABC News, 34 horses, two mules, one wagon and a dog will also take part. In addition to the parade, the Army will also be holding what it's calling a 'Birthday Festival' a few blocks away from the end of the parade route. The festival will kick off with a fitness competition on Saturday morning and will feature opportunities for the public to see more military equipment up close, speak to soldiers and view equipment demonstrations. Several musical acts will perform over the course of the day, including country singers Noah Hicks and Scotty Hasting as well as DJ Nyla Symone. At the conclusion of the parade, which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. local time, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team is expected to present Trump with a folded flag after air-dropping onto White House grounds. Trump is then slated to administer an enlistment ceremony for 250 soldiers. There are reports that the president will address the crowd at some point in the evening. The day's events will end with a fireworks display. Trump expressed interest in hosting a grand military parade during his first term, but resistance from within the Pentagon scuttled the idea. Now with staunch ally Pete Hegseth running the Department of Defense, Trump is getting the parade he hoped for. The concerns that kept it from happening during his previous administration have not gone away, however. Estimates have put the price tag for the parade at $45 million, though the final expense could be significantly higher because the Army is on the hook for fixing any damage its heavy vehicles do to D.C. streets. Trump told NBC that the cost of the event was 'peanuts' compared to the value of doing it. But critics have pushed back, arguing that the money should instead go to essential government services, which Trump's administration has slashed dramatically since the start of his second term. While Trump insists that the parade is being held to honor the Army, Democrats have accused him of using that anniversary as a smokescreen for throwing himself a grand birthday celebration at taxpayer expense. 'Donald Trump may imagine himself an all-powerful ruler, but he is a president, not a potentate, and the American people don't pay tribute to him as if he were a king,' said Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, who introduced a bill that would prohibit official presidential birthday celebrations in the future. California Sen. Adam Schiff, a frequent Trump foil, accused the president of putting on a 'dictator-style military parade' similar to those held by authoritarian leaders in countries like North Korea and Russia. Hundreds of No Kings protests — aimed at countering what organizers call the 'authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy' of Trump's second presidency — are being planned in cities across the country in response to the parade. Trump said Tuesday that anyone protesting the parade 'will be met with very big force.' But organizers have chosen not to hold a No Kings rally in D.C. on Saturday in order to 'make action everywhere else the story of America that day.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands of troops, dozens of tanks, two mules and a dog: What to expect from Trump's big military parade this weekend
The Trump administration this week is sending military personnel and hardware to both coasts for very different reasons. At the same time that Marines and National Guard troops are headed west to respond to protests in Los Angeles, others are heading east to Washington, D.C., to take part in a lavish parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary. Though Saturday's parade happens to fall on President Trump's 79th birthday, its official purpose is to 'reflect on the rich history and legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication' of the U.S. Army. 'I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country,' Trump said in a video message posted to Truth Social last week. 'It's gonna be something very, very special.' Here's what to expect: The parade will travel in a straight line through the heart of the nation's capital. It will travel along Constitution Ave., starting near the Lincoln Memorial and making its way along the National Mall until reaching its conclusion just past the White House. The procession will reportedly feature a variety of modern military vehicles, including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and four Paladin self-propelled howitzer cannons. There will also be Sherman tanks, anti-tank guns and other equipment from World War II. Chinook, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters will be among the 62 total aircraft to perform flyovers during the event. More than 7,000 soldiers will march in the parade, dressed in historic uniforms from, in Trump's words, 'every major war since the revolution.' According to ABC News, 34 horses, two mules, one wagon and a dog will also take part. In addition to the parade, the Army will also be holding what it's calling a 'Birthday Festival' a few blocks away from the end of the parade route. The festival will kick off with a fitness competition on Saturday morning and will feature opportunities for the public to see more military equipment up close, speak to soldiers and view equipment demonstrations. Several musical acts will perform over the course of the day, including country singers Noah Hicks and Scotty Hasting as well as DJ Nyla Symone. At the conclusion of the parade, which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. local time, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team is expected to present Trump with a folded flag after air-dropping onto White House grounds. Trump is then slated to administer an enlistment ceremony for 250 soldiers. There are reports that the president will address the crowd at some point in the evening. The day's events will end with a fireworks display. Trump expressed interest in hosting a grand military parade during his first term, but resistance from within the Pentagon scuttled the idea. Now with staunch ally Pete Hegseth running the Department of Defense, Trump is getting the parade he hoped for. The concerns that kept it from happening during his previous administration have not gone away, however. Estimates have put the price tag for the parade at $45 million, though the final expense could be significantly higher because the Army is on the hook for fixing any damage its heavy vehicles do to D.C. streets. Trump told NBC that the cost of the event was 'peanuts' compared to the value of doing it. But critics have pushed back, arguing that the money should instead go to essential government services, which Trump's administration has slashed dramatically since the start of his second term. While Trump insists that the parade is being held to honor the Army, Democrats have accused him of using that anniversary as a smokescreen for throwing himself a grand birthday celebration at taxpayer expense. 'Donald Trump may imagine himself an all-powerful ruler, but he is a president, not a potentate, and the American people don't pay tribute to him as if he were a king,' said Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, who introduced a bill that would prohibit official presidential birthday celebrations in the future. California Sen. Adam Schiff, a frequent Trump foil, accused the president of putting on a 'dictator-style military parade' similar to those held by authoritarian leaders in countries like North Korea and Russia. Hundreds of No Kings protests — aimed at countering what organizers call the 'authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy' of Trump's second presidency — are being planned in cities across the country in response to the parade. Trump said Tuesday that anyone protesting the parade 'will be met with very big force.' But organizers have chosen not to hold a No Kings rally in D.C. on Saturday in order to 'make action everywhere else the story of America that day.'
