WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th anniversary on Saturday evening with a massive military parade in the nation’s capital — a spectacle that also coincides with former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
The parade, added just weeks ago to the Army’s originally planned celebrations, comes at a politically charged moment. It will feature tanks, military bands, helicopters, and more than 6,000 soldiers marching through Washington, D.C. The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EDT from the Lincoln Memorial and is expected to attract up to 200,000 attendees. However, forecasts of stormy weather and planned nationwide protests may affect the proceedings.
The celebrations are unfolding against the backdrop of Trump’s controversial use of military force in domestic affairs. In the past week, he has authorized deployments of military personnel — including the National Guard and U.S. Marines — in Los Angeles amid immigration raids, despite pushback from local authorities and legal challenges from the state of California. Critics argue that Trump is politicizing the military, echoing past incidents such as his 2020 push to “dominate the streets” during racial justice protests.
Adding to the controversy are concerns over the cost and logistics of the parade, which could run up to $45 million. City officials and critics have also raised alarms about the potential damage to streets from 60-ton M1 Abrams tanks, though the Army has attempted to mitigate this by placing steel plates along the route.
Earlier Saturday, Trump dismissed concerns about the weather and protests, declaring on social media that the “great military parade” would proceed “rain or shine.” He also warned demonstrators that any unrest “will be met with very big force.” Still, hours before the parade, anti-Trump protesters began marching toward the White House with signs, chants, and even a large puppet of Trump sitting on a golden toilet. Many were affiliated with the “No Kings” movement, which organized events across the country to protest what they call authoritarian behavior from the former president.
Meanwhile, the parade will be broken into historical sections, with troops and military vehicles representing different eras in Army history. It will include 6,169 soldiers, 128 military vehicles such as tanks and artillery, and 62 aircraft performing flyovers. Due to their heavy weight, Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles will not cross the bridge from the Pentagon but will join the parade from designated areas along the route.
The event will culminate in a series of symbolic moments: President Trump will administer the oath to 250 new or reenlisting soldiers. The Army’s Golden Knights parachute team will jump onto the National Mall, followed by a concert featuring Lee Greenwood performing “God Bless the U.S.A.” and a fireworks display.
Outside the parade zone, a large Army-themed festival will feature music, food vendors, military equipment displays, and a traditional cake-cutting ceremony. Recruitment materials and digital promotions for enlisting in the Army will also be visible throughout the festival grounds.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the parade has been met with public skepticism. According to an AP-NORC poll, nearly 60% of Americans say the parade is “not a good use” of government funds, including 78% of those who neither support nor oppose the event outright. Military officials have also voiced concern over blending political messages with uniformed troops — especially after Trump’s recent speech at Fort Bragg, where soldiers stood behind him as he launched political attacks and campaign merchandise was sold nearby.
With heightened security in place, including snowplows used as barricades and heavy police presence, officials say they have no indication of a serious security threat at this time. Still, both the parade and the protests are expected to draw major attention — making this celebration of American military history one of the most politically charged public events in recent memory.
