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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Army preparing for largest military parade on the capital's streets in decades, featuring 7 million pounds of hardware
Millions of pounds of military hardware are expected to roll down the US capital's streets in less than two weeks, fulfilling a dream of President Donald Trump but also an effort that has sparked concerns about how the roads of Washington, DC, will fare under the literal weight of heavy tanks and fighting vehicles. The largest military parade the city has seen in decades is expected to bring seven million pounds of vehicles and weaponry as well as a price tag potentially in the tens of millions of dollars, and this week the US Army has started reinforcing the roads that will carry the hardware downtown and along the parade route. The parade on June 14 will feature dozens of M1-A1 Abrams tanks and Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles rolling through the streets of DC, as well as Howitzers and other artillery pieces, officials said. Nearly 7,000 soldiers are set to participate. Most of the tanks, vehicles and equipment are currently en route to Maryland from Fort Cavazos in Texas, and will arrive by train at the rail station in Jessup, Maryland, early next week. They will then be offloaded onto flatbed trucks for onward transport to DC. All told, the parade is expected to bring roughly 7 million pounds of military hardware to the streets of the nation's capital, a non-military official involved in the planning said. But the US Army Corps of Engineers, which has been leading on the effort to protect DC roads and infrastructure, is confident in the mitigation efforts the Army is deploying to minimize damage – efforts that have cost more than $3 million alone so far, Army officials said. The total cost of the parade could be as high as $45 million, officials have estimated. The damage mitigation efforts include laying steel plates down on roads, particularly at spots where the tanks will make sharp turns; putting new track pads on every vehicle to relieve some pressure and create separation between the metal and the asphalt; and ensuring the tanks move only at a walking pace during the parade itself, the officials said. Col. Jesse Curry, the director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, told CNN that the Army has worked extensively with various agencies and DC utility companies in its planning to minimize potential damage. The Army began laying down steel plates in roughly a dozen locations along the parade route on Wednesday night, Curry said, and is planning to put down matting at a staging area in West Potomac Park, near the National Mall, for the Abrams tanks to sit on before they roll down Constitution Avenue. 'Our concern from an engineer technical evaluation on anything below the surface of the road that's going to be damaged is very, very low,' Curry said. 'We've got the best (engineers) in the world.' The Army's 250th birthday celebration has been in the works for two years, Army officials said. But adding a parade was the Trump White House's idea, so planning for that began only two months ago. Trump's desire for a large military parade – featuring all of the military services – dates back to his first term. But it was scrapped at the time because defense officials said it would cost as much as $100 million and damage DC streets. This month's parade will focus only on the Army, making it slightly smaller and less expensive. The Army Corps of Engineers began assessing how to protect DC infrastructure during the parade back in April, Curry said. The initial worst-case-scenario estimate to protect DC streets was roughly $16 million, Curry said. That would have been the cost if the Army 'did nothing to mitigate' the impacts, he explained. Now, the estimate has dropped down to around $3.5 million, which will include the cost for putting down steel plates and reinforcing them into the pavement with railroad ties, removing the plates afterwards, and any cosmetic upkeep that needs to be done in the wake of the parade. Two people who are not in the military but are involved in the parade's planning told CNN there are still concerns among some agencies over potential damage to underground gas lines – particularly on the route from the rail station in Jessup to the holding area near the National Mall. But Curry emphasized that the Army Corps of Engineers assesses that risk to be 'very low.' The Army has consulted with the National Park Services, the Federal Highway Administration, DC Water, Washington Gas, Pepco, the Department of Transportation and 'all the associated authorities and utility companies that would have rightful concerns,' Curry said. During those discussions, the Army went over the expected route with the companies, looking at their underground gas and electric lines, which Curry said largely run under sidewalks instead of in the middle of the road. That alone mitigated some of the concern over damage to critical infrastructure, Curry said. 'If we're driving on sidewalks, something went really wrong,' he said. Curry noted that the Army frequently transports tanks and heavy fighting vehicles on trucks all around the country, without causing infrastructure issues. The parade is meant to tell the story of the Army through its 250-year history, beginning with the Revolutionary War, tracing through major conflicts and ending with present day. The parade route will begin near the Lincoln Memorial on Constitution Avenue, continue east to 15th Street, and end at the corner of 15th and Independence Avenue. Here is a breakdown of what will be featured: World War I A Dodge Staff car Renault tank World War II 6 Willys jeeps 2 Sherman tanks 2 Half-tracks 1 M14 high-speed tractor A 2.5-ton truck towing a 37mm anti-tank gun Vietnam War: 3 M151 jeeps 2 M35A2 cargo trucks 1 M274 Mule Gulf War: 8 M181 armored vehicles 2 Paladins 8 M2 Bradley fighting vehicles 6 M119 howitzers Global War on Terror: 18 Strykers Modern Era 1 6 M777 artillery pieces 12 M2 Bradley fighting vehicles 4 M119 howitzers 12 ISV utility vehicles 12 Abrams tanks Modern Era 2 3 Paladins 12 Strykers 12 M2 Bradley fighting vehicles 9 M777 artillery pieces 9 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles 12 Abrams tanks The parade will also feature an 'extensive' flyover, Army officials said, involving more than 50 helicopters. Those will include AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks. Finally, the Army's Golden Knights parachute demonstration team will jump and present Trump with an American flag – the only part of the parade that will involve the president directly, Army officials said.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday bash: Everything you need to know about the extravagant celebrations
Credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump President Donald Trump is finally getting the grand military spectacle he's long desired—and it's landing on his 79th birthday. On June 14, the U.S. Army will mark its 250th anniversary with a full-throttle celebration in Washington, D.C. , a plan that just so happens to double as a birthday bash for the commander-in-chief. Here's a breakdown of everything we know about what promises to be one of the most headline-grabbing events of 2025— Where and when is the party? Festivities are planned throughout the first week of June, but the main event falls on June 14—also Flag Day and Trump's birthday. According to a planning document obtained by Reuters, the day begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a fitness competition and an Army birthday festival on the National Mall, featuring military demonstrations and equipment displays. Credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump By evening, the streets of D.C. will fill with marching troops, tanks, and helicopters for a massive parade, ending with an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony presided over by Trump himself, followed by a fireworks show. The military muscle It's set to be a military lover's dream. Per Army planning documents dated April 29 and 30, the parade will feature: 6,600 soldiers 150 vehicles, including M1 Abrams tanks, Strykers, Bradleys, Howitzers, and Paladin artillery 50 aircraft Historic military reenactors from every major U.S. conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror The heavier vehicles—like tanks—will avoid crossing bridges into the city. Instead, they'll join the parade near the Lincoln Memorial, according to the Associated Press. Army spokesman Steve Warren told the Washington Post that the vehicles would arrive in the region by train and be trucked into the city. Credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump What's it costing taxpayers? The price tag? Between $25 million and $45 million, according to Reuters. That figure covers the military logistics, but not the cost to D.C. for road repairs, crowd control, or cleanup. One official noted the parade alone added 'several million dollars' more to the Army's budget. Trump, for his part, dismissed cost concerns in a May 4 interview with NBC News, saying: 'Peanuts compared to the value of doing it... We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it.' A birthday… coincidence? The White House insists the date is no vanity project. 'My birthday happens to be on Flag Day,' Trump told NBC News. 'I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday. Somebody put it together.' Music, food & fireworks According to a May 9 National Park Service application obtained by Axios, the event will also feature: A concert on the Ellipse with 5-7 musical acts, likely country performers Food and drink stalls, restroom facilities, and shaded seating A parachute jump by the Golden Knights A fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Why is this parade so controversial? Critics have long called Trump's parade obsession a show of 'authoritarian' symbolism. His initial attempt in 2018 was scrapped after the Pentagon estimated it would cost $92 million, with D.C. officials balking at the idea of tanks on city roads. As the Washington Post reported, Trump was obsessed with military parades after watching France's Bastille Day celebration in 2017: 'He eagerly leaned forward as he took in the spectacle… jumping to his feet and applauding with an enthusiasm that exceeded the response of those around him.' Despite claiming to cancel the 2018 parade due to cost, Trump tweeted: 'The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it... They wanted a number so ridiculously high that I cancelled it. Never let someone hold you up!'
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Donald Trump's birthday parade to cost up to $45m
File photo: US President Donald Trump (Picture credit: AP) A massive military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army , coinciding with US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday on June 14, is expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million, according to Army officials. As per CBS News, the event is expected to feature more than 100 vehicles, including M1 Abrams tanks, Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, and artillery units like Howitzers. It could also involve up to 50 helicopters, requiring 'extensive coordination' with the Federal Aviation Administration. The day will conclude with a fireworks display and live performances. Lt Col Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson, confirmed that around 6,600 to 7,500 soldiers will participate,according to CNBC. Many will arrive days ahead and be housed in federal buildings such as the department of agriculture and a general services administration warehouse in Washington, DC. Soldiers will receive one hot meal, two ready-to-eat meals daily, and $50 in extra pay. The celebration, which includes period uniforms and vintage aircraft flyovers from World War II-era B-17s and P-51 Mustangs, will run from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo The Independent reported that the Army is still struggling to source accurate historical uniforms from the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War. Trump said, 'We're going to have a big, beautiful parade.' He insisted the event is not tied to his birthday and brushed off concerns over the cost: 'It would be peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' As per media reports, the US president's fascination with military parades likely began after he attended France's Bastille Day celebrations in 2017, when he said, "we're going to have to try and top it". Although he had attempted to organize a similar event in 2018, he cancelled it after the cost was projected at $92 million. He later blamed 'local politicians who run Washington, DC, poorly' for inflating the price, as per CBS News. The National Park Service has received permit requests for both the parade and a planned counterprotest. According to The Independent, one application calls the parade 'an insult to the American people,' and estimates up to 20,000 demonstrators might attend. Democratic critics, including Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, have slammed the plan as wasteful. 'The egotist-in-chief wants taxpayers to foot the bill for a military parade on his birthday,' Cohen said in a statement. Despite opposition, the event is set to be the grand finale of a weeklong commemoration, with concerts, parachute jumps, military demonstrations, and musical performances, including country music stars, reported The Independent. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:45 pm (local time) on the National Mall.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump's Birthday Parade to Cost Eyewatering Amount—and Could Get Worse
Donald Trump is planning to pay $45 million to roll tanks down the streets of Washington, D.C., on his birthday. It was only a few months ago that the president signed an executive order creating a program to 'beautify Washington D.C.' Now, he's plotting to transform his expensive birthday parade into a demolition derby that will cause serious damage to the roads that line the nation's capitol. Jennifer Griffin, Fox News's chief national security correspondent, wrote on X Wednesday that the newest batch of plans for a military parade to mark the Army's 250th anniversary—which also happens to fall on Flag Day, Trump's birthday—will feature 90 heavy vehicles. This would include tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy artillery weaponry. Griffin reported there would be 10 tanks and 10 Howitzers. The first time Trump pitched the idea of throwing a massive military parade in his honor was in 2018. At the time, plans to include tanks were ultimately scrapped over concerns they would damage the roads. A Pentagon planning memo said that the procession would 'include wheeled vehicles only, no tanks,' because 'consideration must be given to minimize damage to local infrastructure.' This time around, it seems similar considerations to preserve local infrastructure have been skipped. During an interview on NBC News's Meet the Press Sunday, Trump said the hefty $45 million price tag was 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' U.S. defense planners said that the price would fall somewhere between $25 million and $45 million, according to Griffin. Those numbers should be questionable, however. In 2018, the estimated price tag of Trump's parade was roughly $92 million. Imagining that these plans include many of the same features as the ones from seven years ago, inflation would put the price tag closer to $117 million. Whatever the price tag may be, it will fall squarely on the Army, with the cost being divided between units. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ordered major cost-cutting measures in the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Monday for a 20 percent reduction in four star generals and general officers in the National Guard, and a 10 percent reduction in general and flag officers. 'Through these measures, we will uphold our position as the most lethal fighting force in the world, achieving peace through strength and ensuring greater efficiency, innovation, and preparedness for any challenge that lies ahead,' Hegseth stated in a memo. It's no secret that Trump has hated Washington for years—but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to destroy it for a vanity project. A 'No Kings Day' protest is already being planned to combat the parade.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
6,600 Troops to march in military parade on Donald Trump's 79th birthday
A costly military celebration will roll through Washington on President Trump's 79th birthday, marking a historic milestone for the US Army . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India strikes hard! New Delhi bans all imports from Pakistan How Pakistan is preparing for the worst as India weighs response If India attacks Pakistan, China & B'desh should seize 7 NE states, says Yunus' aide On Friday, the US Army confirmed that a large-scale parade will take place on 14 June — coinciding with both the Army's 250th birthday and President Donald Trump's own 79th. The parade will feature 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and 50 helicopters. The procession is set to begin in Arlington, Virginia, and conclude on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Army spokesman Steve Warren said in a statement, 'A spectacular fireworks display, a parade, and a daylong festival on the National Mall' will mark the occasion. Parade plans finalised after last-minute push The decision to hold the parade comes after recent planning discussions between Trump and Pentagon officials. Talks reportedly began less than two months ago, even though the Army's anniversary festival had been in the works for over a year without initially including a large-scale parade. According to documents dated 29 and 30 April, reviewed by the Associated Press, the parade will include soldiers from at least 11 different corps and divisions. This includes a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion, Paladin artillery units, Howitzers, and infantry battalions equipped with Bradley vehicles. Live Events Planners aim to avoid bridge damage by having heavy tracked vehicles like tanks join the route near the Lincoln Memorial rather than crossing the bridge from Arlington. Political optics amid Pentagon budget cuts The announcement has drawn criticism due to its expected cost — estimated to run into tens of millions of dollars — coming at a time when the federal government is slashing spending across departments. Thousands of public sector workers have lost their jobs, including many civilians working in the Department of Defense. These cuts have been overseen by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by Elon Musk. Despite the austerity drive, White House officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that the parade will be 'one of the first events' kicking off a year-long celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Local concerns over infrastructure and cost DC city officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, were contacted by the administration in April regarding the proposed parade. Bowser was not enthusiastic about the inclusion of tanks on city streets. 'If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads,' she said. Concerns about infrastructure damage and costs are not new. A similar parade proposed by Trump during his first term — inspired by the Bastille Day parade in Paris — was cancelled in 2018 after projected costs reached $92 million. Trump had blamed the cancellation on 'local politicians who wanted to gouge the government.' A festival packed with spectacle The Army's birthday celebrations will not be limited to military machinery. Festival events include capability demonstrations, military music performances, a fitness competition, and a parachute jump by the elite Golden Knights. Historical military vehicles and aircraft are expected to be on display, along with participants from veterans' groups, military academies, and historical re-enactment organisations. Planning documents note that the parade has been submitted for classification as a 'national special security event,' a designation that heightens federal security oversight. The request is currently under review by the National Park Service. Trump's longstanding dream realised Trump's fascination with military pageantry dates back to 2017, when he attended France's Bastille Day celebrations. 'It was a two-hour parade on the Champs-Élysées. I want one like that, but grander,' he had reportedly told aides. That vision is now being realised. With thousands of troops, tanks, helicopters, and a full day of festivities, the parade on 14 June will be the centrepiece of a celebration that is as much about military pride as it is about political spectacle. And this time, the President will be watching not from abroad, but from the heart of the capital — on his own birthday.
