Donald Trump’s upcoming birthday celebration isn’t just about cake and candles—it’s about a military parade with thousands of soldiers, tanks, and jets. And it could cost taxpayers up to $45 million, according to the Army.
Set for June 14 in Washington, D.C., the parade will double as a 250th anniversary tribute to the U.S. Army. But the timing is no coincidence—it also happens to be Trump’s birthday and the president has made it clear he plans to be the center of attention.
The show of force will be massive: 150 military vehicles, 50 aircraft, and thousands of service members marching nearly four miles—from the Pentagon to the White House.
And where will all those troops stay? About 3,000 soldiers are expected to sleep in a General Services Administration building, and another 2,000 will be housed at the Agriculture Department, according to an Army official. Those numbers could shift as planning continues.
Veterans from the Vietnam War and nearly every Army division will be on display. It’s a celebration of military might—and of Trump himself.
“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,” Trump said on Meet the Press. “We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it.”
Planning has been underway since Trump took office. Local D.C. officials are involved, and Army engineers are mapping the parade route.
While the Trump administration frames the event as a historic tribute to the U.S. Army, critics are already raising eyebrows over the use of taxpayer funds and federal buildings to stage what looks a lot like a personal show of force for the president.
