Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Major Military Parade Set for Washington to Celebrate Army Anniversary
President Donald Trump is scheduled to host a grand military parade in Washington this Saturday, commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary. This large-scale celebration, expected to showcase military strength, will likely affect traffic and public access in the capital. The Army anniversary parade promises a display of national pride.
When and Where Will the Army Anniversary Parade Take Place?
The parade is scheduled to commence at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and is anticipated to last over an hour. The event will highlight various epochs of the Army’s history:
- Revolutionary War
- Civil War
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Gulf War
- Global War on Terror
- The Modern Army
- The Future
The procession will proceed along the National Mall, specifically Constitution Avenue NW, between 15th and 23rd streets.
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Additional Activities
Besides the parade, the Army will host supplementary events, including a birthday festival on the National Mall, commencing at 11 a.m. ET. This free, “family-friendly” festival will feature:
- Live music
- Meet-and-greets with former NFL players
- Rock walls
- Military demonstrations
A highlight of the festival will be an Army fitness competition featuring 14 teams vying for the top spot.
President Trump is slated to deliver remarks later in the evening, focusing on the Army’s significant achievements and lasting legacy. Following the parade, a concert and fireworks display will conclude the day’s festivities.
Who is Organizing this Military Event?
America250, a bipartisan initiative established by Congress following the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016, is orchestrating the parade.
The America250 commission comprises Cabinet secretaries and lawmakers, including prominent figures such as:
- Attorney General Pam Bondi
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon
- Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
- Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
- Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
- Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)
An executive order signed by President Trump in January added administration officials to America250, designating Trump as chair of the White House task force and Vice President JD Vance as vice chair.
Parade Features: What to Expect
Defense officials indicate approximately 6,600 soldiers will march in the parade, alongside 50 military aircraft and 150 vehicles. Furthermore, roughly three dozen horses and two mules will feature in a section commemorating the Army’s historical timeline. Participants will don period-specific costumes and bear representative weaponry.
The parade also includes an extensive air show and flyover, featuring helicopters, vintage aircraft, and a demonstration by the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team.
Military equipment and vehicles began arriving near the nation’s capital earlier this week. Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, the director of public affairs for the U.S. Army’s III Armored Corps, reported that the equipment arrived via train, with “fifty-one rail cars overall.”
Viewing Options for the Public
Public attendance is permitted, with viewing areas available on the National Mall, including screens near the Washington Monument. A designated viewing area on Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets will host the president and over 100 distinguished guests.
Major broadcast networks, such as ABC, CBS, and NBC, will provide coverage of the parade across their streaming platforms. NBC News Now will begin coverage Saturday evening.
Estimated Cost of the Military Parade
Estimates suggest the parade could cost the military as much as $45 million, with up to $16 million allocated for repairing Washington streets potentially damaged by tanks.
During an interview in May, President Trump defended the expenditure, stating that the millions of dollars were “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”
He added, “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.”
President Trump also clarified that the parade was not specifically a birthday celebration, despite coinciding with his 79th birthday.
“My birthday happens to be on Flag Day,” he said. “I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday… I think we’re going to do something on June 14, maybe, or somewhere around there. But I think June 14. It’s a very important day.”
Potential Protests During the Event
Pro-democracy, labor, and liberal activists are organizing protests in Washington and across all 50 states to coincide with the military parade.
Several progressive groups are collaborating to host “No Kings” protests nationwide, with over 1,500 rallies expected on Saturday. The flagship event will occur in Philadelphia rather than Washington, D.C.
The Women’s March group is organizing “Kick Out the Clowns” rallies in various cities.
In Washington, groups such as Refuse Fascism and the Free D.C. Project plan to host a “nonviolent march” and a “D.C. Joy Day,” respectively. The Free D.C. Project emphasizes its event as a community day, offering counterprogramming to the parade.
These demonstrations follow recent protests in Los Angeles against the administration’s immigration policies. President Trump’s response, deploying National Guard members and Marines, sparked further controversy.
President Trump issued a warning against disrupting the military celebration, stating that protesters would face “heavy force.”
“If there’s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,” President Trump told reporters. “This is people that hate our country, but they will be met with very heavy force.”
When questioned about supporting peaceful protests, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “Of course the president supports peaceful protests. What a stupid question.”
Impact on Washington Residents and Visitors
Residents and visitors in Washington should expect several days of road closures near the parade route along Constitution Avenue, north of the National Mall, as per the Metropolitan Police Department. Numerous streets will enforce emergency no-parking measures.
On Saturday, the Metro will operate normally, with only the Smithsonian Metro’s northwest entry/exit expected to close, according to the Army.
Reagan National Airport in northern Virginia will temporarily halt flights during the flyovers, potentially affecting over 100 incoming and outgoing flights.