 "A military parade in Washington DC | Trump couldn't get it in 2018, now plans for his 79th birthday: Report")
The Trump administration is planning a military parade through the streets of Washington, DC, on 14 June to mark President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, coinciding with the Army’s 250th anniversary, a senior administration official has confirmed to NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network.
According to Washington City Paper, which first reported on the event, the parade will stretch nearly 4 miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, to the White House.
An Army official confirmed the parade’s length to The Hill, stating that “there are plans for a parade that will involve the Army,” whilst adding that details are not yet finalised.
The upcoming parade represents a fulfilment of a longstanding desire for President Trump, who previously attempted to organise a military parade in 2018 but was unable to proceed with the plans at that time.
A lingering dream
Trump in his first presidential term ordered the Pentagon to plan a large military parade after he saw a French Bastille Day event during his 2018 Paris visit. He reportedly told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, “We’re going to have to try to top it.”
The event looked set for November 10, 2018, but got canceled after defence officials quoted the price tag at $92 million. They were reportedly also slow in planning it, citing more pressing issues. Trump received a lot of flak for ordering a military parade.
The criticism
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) called the military parade plans a “fantastic waste of money to amuse the president”.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump backer, too warned against treating the parade as a “Soviet-style” display of military might.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsReports suggest that Trump’s military parade plan faced opposition from his own administration officials, who complained that heavy military equipment such as tanks would damage the city’s roads and cost the city millions of dollars for public safety.
Some suggested that the Pentagon could use its training budget to pay for flyovers and use vehicles from nearby bases. Such an event in the US would also require outside costs, analysts say, such as payment for the Secret Service and the police, and the renting and construction of stands and barriers.
Finally, Trump will have a military parade
This June celebration appears to combine the commemoration of the Army’s historic milestone with the president’s personal birthday celebration, creating what is expected to be a significant national event in the capital.
The administration’s confirmation of these plans marks a notable development in the president’s ongoing interest in military displays and ceremonial events showcasing American military strength.
“The Army is very excited to celebrate its 250th anniversary with the entire county. Our intention is for Americans to be proud of their Army and also proud of their nation. It’s too early to say yet whether or not we’re having a parade but we’re working with the White House as well as several government agencies to make the celebration a national level event,” Army spokesperson Colonel Dave Butler told The Hill.
The original plan and preparation
The US Army had initially planned to celebrate its 250th anniversary with “a robust capability increase in what you would see in previous years,” the Hill quoted the official as saying. Planning commenced last year, with the event subsequently expanding to include more participating units.
The local administration has been actively involved in the planning process, with engineers from both the US Army and the city conducting “route reconnaissance” to ensure the parade’s feasibility.
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