The Trump administration is contemplating the possibility of organizing a significant military parade in Washington, D.C., this summer, fulfilling an aspiration of former President Donald Trump. According to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the administration reached out on Monday to discuss the potential of a parade slated for June 14, spanning from Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River and into Washington, D.C. This day coincides with the Army’s 250th birthday celebration and is also President Trump’s 79th birthday.
The notion of including a parade as part of the Army’s annual commemoration is being considered, as per a defense official who opted to remain anonymous due to the ongoing discussions and lack of final decisions. Despite these deliberations, the White House issued a statement clarifying that no military parade has yet been scheduled. The Army’s birthday celebration, having been in the works for two years, plans to feature a diverse array of displays and activities on the National Mall. This event might showcase military assets such as Stryker armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters, and additional equipment.
Col. David Butler, representing the Army, mentioned that it is premature to confirm the parade’s occurrence but underlined collaborative efforts with the White House and various government entities to elevate the celebration to a national level. During his initial presidential term, Trump expressed interest in a grand military parade within the U.S. This interest was sparked after witnessing France’s Bastille Day parade in 2017 along the renowned Champs-Elysees. Trump’s vision was to surpass this with a more extravagant event on Pennsylvania Avenue. However, the plan was abandoned due to anticipated excessive costs, with estimates running as high as $92 million, along with logistical challenges.
In 2018, Trump announced via social media his decision to cancel the extravaganza, attributing it to exorbitant costs and accusing local officials of price gouging. Mayor Bowser, in a press briefing on Monday, addressed uncertainties about the event’s classification as a ‘military parade,’ expressing concerns about the presence of military tanks on city streets, which she deemed potentially detrimental. She suggested that if tanks were deployed, substantial funding should be allocated to road repairs therein.
Takis Karantonis, the Arlington County Board chair, disclosed that the Secret Service had reached out last Friday about the potential parade in celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary without providing further details. He emphasized the need for federal sensitivity towards the concerns of military personnel and veterans affected by recent decisions as they contemplate the Army’s commemorations. Bowser’s Monday comments were straightforward, yet the idea of a military parade was mockingly dismissed during Trump’s tenure.
The District of Columbia once humorously referred to the intended parade, quipping in an early 2019 post that while schools and offices would open timely amidst winter weather, the “Giant Tank Parade” remained canceled. Later that year, in June, a Defense Department memo was posted by the D.C. Council to illustrate military opposition to using tanks on public streets. Plans regarding the latest parade initiative were initially reported by Washington City Paper on Sunday.