The Washington City Paper reported that President Trump is organizing a large military parade to be held on June 14 to mark his 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. military.
According to unconfirmed D.C. sources, the event–which is still being organized–will start in Arlington, Virginia, and arrive in Washington, DC. It is unclear whether heavy military equipment, such as missile launchers or aircraft, a desire already expressed by Trump during his first term, will be present at the event.
Details are still being worked out. “Arlington is the proud home of tens of thousands of Veterans, active military and civilian personnel, and the Pentagon. We are a 9/11 community. U.S. Army history is Arlington history,” said Takis Karantonis, chair of the Arlington County Board, “At this time, it is not clear to me what the scope of the parade would look be, but I would hope the Federal Government remains sensitive to the pain and concerns of numerous active military and veteran residents, who have lost or might lose their jobs in recent federal decisions, as they reflect on how best to celebrate the Army’s anniversary.”
“I haven’t been directly involved in it yet”, Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C., stated. “I think it was Homeland Security, maybe the White House, reached out to our special events task force. I don’t know if it’s being characterized as a ‘military parade.’”
Trump has long wanted to organize a flashy display of American military might along the streets of the capital. During his first term, after witnessing the celebration in honor of the storming of the Bastille in Paris, he was adamant about holding such an event in D.C., but was ultimately disappointed when the idea was turned down due to the exorbitant cost–some $110 million– and logistical considerations such as the damage the heavy military equipment would cause to the road’s infrastructure. He was forced to back off, but he remained bitter and angry.
What’s more, at the time armed forces officials told the president that such an event would be too reminiscent of military parades typical of North Korea and Russia. This time around, seven years later, the MAGA leader who is increasingly defiant of any obstacles to his will, appears to be determined to carry out the project. The fact that it will be held on his birthday adds another questionable aspect to the plan.
