The US president had planned – and eventually abandoned – a similar celebration during his first term
The administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to organize a military parade in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army – and the commander-in-chief’s 79th birthday – both of which fall on June 14, The Hill has reported.
The Pentagon has been planning the celebration since last year, and the potential scale of the event has expanded since Trump returned to office in January, the outlet wrote Monday, citing a senior administration source.
“Our intention is for Americans to be proud of their Army and also proud of their nation. It’s too early to say yet whether or not we’re having a parade, but we’re working with the White House as well as several government agencies to make the celebration a national-level event,” The Hill quoted Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler as saying.
According to Washington City Paper, the proposed parade route could stretch nearly four miles, from the Pentagon to the White House.
However, planning remains in the early stages, and “no military parade has been scheduled” as of yet, Newsmax and the New York Post reported, citing an unnamed White House official.
During his first term, Trump proposed a grand military parade for Veterans Day 2018, inspired by the Bastille Day celebration he attended in France the year before. “I want a parade like the one in France,” he reportedly told military aides afterward.
However, that event was ultimately postponed after cost estimates ballooned to over $90 million – more than three times initial projections. City officials also objected to the use of heavy military vehicles, warning they could damage streets and infrastructure and increase the cost of public safety and logistics.
