The official purpose of President Donald Trump’s military parade, scheduled for June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C., is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. The day is also Trump’s 79th birthday as well as Flag Day. The parade is intended to showcase the president’s vision of American military strength. It will feature 50 military helicopters, more than 100 combat vehicles—including 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks—and 6,700 soldiers drawn from active-duty units, the reserves, special forces, and the National Guard. Critics argue that the parade risks politicizing national service and breaks with the historical norm of using military parades to celebrate victories in battle.
The U.S. Army estimates that the event will cost between $25 and $45 million (costs include funds to fix any street damage caused by the heavy machinery). When asked about the price tag on NBC News’s Meet the Press, President Trump responded, “Peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”