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Yahoo
19 hours ago
- 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
19 hours ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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.'
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Country singers and parade celebrate Army – and (unofficially) Trump's birthday
Country singers and parade celebrate Army – and (unofficially) Trump's birthday A massive military parade on the streets of Washington will showcase troops, tanks, weapons, aircraft – and music performers including country singer Scotty Hasting, a former Army infantryman who was wounded in Afghanistan. Country singer Noah Hicks of Nashville and DJ Nyla Symone, one of New York's youngest DJs, will perform at the U.S. Army's Grand Military Parade in Washington. The parade is a celebration of the Army's 250th year, scheduled for June 14 – which is also President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. A concert will feature "5-7 musical acts" with country music performers, not yet identified, according to Axios. Trump is scheduled to speak at the event, which is expected to draw at least 200,000 people. You can register for free tickets to the parade, but they're limited. The two-hour event, a military spectacle and unofficial birthday party, takes place on Constitution Avenue near the National Mall and starts at 6:30 p.m. ET. Events include Army parachuters jumping from aircraft, landing and giving Trump an American flag for his birthday, Pentagon officials said, according to Axios. Trump expressed a desire for a large military parade during his first administration. That did not happen, but the president is playing a major role in the Army celebration, which now includes the parade, Reuters reported. Where will the parade start and end? Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. The celebration day begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in the morning. Events include "historical U.S. Army personnel reenactors, period-accurate equipment, vehicles, impressive flyovers, and military bands," according to America 250, the organizer. What's in the Army parade? For the celebration, the U.S. Army is bringing in: 7,500 troops 28 M1 Abrams tanks 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles 4 Paladin self-propelled howitzer cannons 50 Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters The vehicles will be transported by train, and the helicopters will be flown in. Vintage warplanes, including a World War II-era B-17 bomber and a P-51 Mustang fighter, are set to fly over the National Mall. The parade will cross in front of Trump's viewing stand on Constitution Avenue south of the White House at about 6 p.m. Trump is expected to preside over the enlistment and reenlistment of soldiers at the end of the parade. The event will end with fireworks at dusk. How much will the parade cost? The latest price tag for the parade is $30 million, a figure that could rise as high as $45 million. Though the Army is expected to pay for any damage from tanks rolling through the streets of the capital, it's "not expecting damage" to the roads, officials said. CONTRIBUTING Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Tom Vanden Brook SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; America 250
