THOUSANDS of US troops flanked by battle tanks and World War two planes will march on the streets as President Donald Trump kicks off a grand military parade – on his birthday.
Patriotic tunes will fill the air in Washington DC as the commander in chief turns 79 – with the grand military spectacle set to commemorate the US Army‘s 250th anniversary.
The grandiose military parade will showcase soldiers, sailors, airmen and US Marines marching in their uniforms in front of thousands of spectators.
As many as 7,000 troops and seven band contingents have reportedly been called to participate in the show.
They will be accompanied by at least 150 military vehicles and some 50 aircraft.
Some 2,000 civilians could also take march alongside the US military.
The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend the festival and parade.
And the whole celebration will be enclosed with an 18-mile ring of steel to protect the parade.
Drones and a small army of cops will be on hand to keep order – with there expected to be protests across the country as part of “No Kings” day, a series of anti-Trump rallies by people objecting to the parade.
It comes after a week of unrest in many cities – with anti-immigration raid riots in LA and protests against ICE across the US.
June 14 this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army, also known as Army Day.
The day also coincides with Trump‘s 79th birthday.
To celebrate both things in style, Trump planned to throw a military parade to showcase America’s might.
For years, the president is said to have had his eyes on a full-blown military show, but has failed to put up a working plan – until now.
Plans are to roll down battle tanks, massive military equipment, and aircraft and missiles, just as Trump first envisioned the parade during his first term.
Among the military equipment set to be flaunted are M1A1 Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, World War II Sherman tanks and four WWII-era P-51 aircraft.
The festivities already began at 9:30am EDT, featuring fitness competitions, demonstrations, equipment displays, music and a cake-cutting ceremony.
Some contingents of the parade, including the horse-drawn caissons and other units, will begin at 6.30pm EDT at the Pentagon.
They will then head over a bridge and meet up with some of the heavier tanks and equipment.
That’s because officials did not want the more-than-60-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles crossing the bridge.
Timed down to the minute, the march will be divided into sections by history, with equipment and troops in full dress from each period.
Donald Trump's Army Celebration Schedule
8 am: Entry opens for the Army fitness competition and festival on the National Mall
8:15 am: Wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
9:30 am – 12:30 pm: Fitness competition on the National Mall
11 am – 6 pm: Army birthday festival on the National Mall with military equipment displays and demonstrations, live music, and concessions
2 pm: Entry opens for parade viewing
6:30 pm: Parade begins on Constitution Avenue between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument (23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW)
8 pm: Post-parade presidential address, enlistment ceremony and concert on The Ellipse
9:45 pm: Fireworks at the National Mall over the Tidal Basin
The president, who is expected to give a speech during the parade, has pitched the occasion as a way to celebrate US power and service members’ sacrifice.
The parade will also showcase antics from different eras of the Army’s history, right from the Revolutionary War in 1775 to the modern developments of the US Army.
Contingent members are expected to wear corresponding uniforms and carry equipment respectively.
While US officials have yet to release the cost of the planned parade, the figure is expected to reach up to a whopping $45million.
This includes the cost of transporting all the military equipment across Washington and putting up safety measures for the public expected to gather at the parade.
Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler said that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.
He added: “We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us.
“We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers.
“A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.”
Trump appeared to tease the grand plan last month in a post on Truth Social, where he wrote: “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
He also vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as “Victory Day for World War II,” and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to “Victory Day for World War I”.
Meanwhile, immigration rioters protesting against the Trump administration in LA could show up in Washington, experts fear.
AMERICA'S 250th MAGA CELEBRATION
By Sayan Bose, Foreign news reporter
Trump is also planning a so-called Great American State Fair to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Trump floated plans to showcase America’s greatness in its true sense – packed in a year-long grand festival to mark the country’s anniversary, dubbed the semiquincentennial, in a grand style that can be seen in the video above.
Trump, who led his 2024 election campaign on the promise to make America great again, will take this opportunity to portray the country’s might in the most patriotic way.
It was just a year ago when he called all Americans to prepare for the Great American State Fair – a gigantic carnival of joy that would mark America’s 250th birthday in true Trump fashion.
Various contingents could take part in a grand parade in front of millions of people visiting the fair – and Trump could build a “National Garden of American Heroes” with statues of important figures in American history.
This may include giant structures of George Washington, Neil Armstrong, and Muhammad Ali.
Use our interactive map here to find out about what attractions could be at the mega MAGA event.
But Trump warned protestors would be “met with very big force” if they attempted to sow chaos during the parade.
He told reporters from the White House: “For those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force.”
Law enforcement agencies are preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to attend Saturday’s parade, US Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool revealed.
McCool said thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies across the country.
Who's marching in Trump's Army parade?
Nearly 7,000 troops and about 150 vehicles will participate in Trump's parade, plus over 50 aircraft flying overhead, organized into different eras of the Army’s 250-year history.
Revolutionary War
- National and Army color guard
- Marching bands
- Cavalry horses
- Soldiers in Revolutionary War era uniforms
World War I and II
- 4 P-51 Mustangs
- 1 B-52 bomber
- 2 C-47 transport jets
- 2 M4 Sherman tanks
- Period Jeeps & other vehicles
- Horse-drawn artillery and cavalry horses
- Soldiers in period uniforms
Korean War and Vietnam War
- 3 OH-6 Cayuse helicopters
- Period Jeeps & other vehicles
- 101st Airborne Division & 82nd Airborne Division
Gulf War and The War on Terror
- 16 AH-64 Apache helicopters
- 10 C/MH-47 Chinook helicopters
- 28 M1 Abrams tanks
- 8 M-109 howitzers
- 1st Infantry Division, 1st Airborne Division, Army Rangers & 10th Mountain Division
Today’s Army
- 60 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters
- 1 M1 Abrams tank
- 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
- 20 Stryker Armored Combat Vehicles
- US Army Golden Knights to parachute in
Photo: EPA
