On the 14th (local time), a large-scale parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Army was held in Washington, D.C. Donald Trump, on his 79th birthday, personally attended the parade, marking the first large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., in 34 years.
The parade began around 6 p.m. and proceeded along Constitution Avenue from the Lincoln Memorial, a symbol of Washington, D.C., to the Washington Monument. According to the U.S. Army, approximately 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, 34 horses, 2 mules, and 1 dog participated in the event.
President Trump watched the parade from a large special stage near the White House, accompanied by Mrs. Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After the parade, he presided over a swearing-in ceremony for new service members.
In a congratulatory speech, President Trump said, "The U.S. Army has plunged its bayonets into the heart of an evil empire and crushed the ambitions of wicked tyrants with tanks," adding, "When enemies threaten the American people, our military will go, and they will learn the lesson that they will be completely and utterly defeated."
He continued, "The Army is a symbol of freedom and strength, and when enemies threaten, they will experience utter collapse," stating, "The Army frees us and makes us strong. Tonight, you have made all Americans proud."
The parade showcased the 250-year history of the U.S. Army, beginning with the Revolutionary War fought to break away from British colonial rule, followed by the Civil War over the abolition of slavery between the North and South, the Westward Expansion era, World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, and the War on Terror triggered by the September 11 attacks, displaying military equipment currently used by the Army in order.
Main battle tanks such as the Abrams tank, Stryker armored vehicles, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Paladin self-propelled howitzers were featured in the parade, while helicopters such as the Black Hawk (UH-60), Apache (AH-64), and Chinook (CH-47) flew overhead.
President Trump wanted a parade during his first term but was unable to hold it due to opposition from his aides. In his second term, he established an organization called 'Task Force 250' from the outset to prepare for the parade, ultimately fulfilling his wish on his 79th birthday. It is reported that the parade cost up to $45 million (approximately 61.5 billion won).
As this parade was embroiled in controversy over its expense and the political use of the military, many Republican figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader John Thune, did not attend the event. The New York Times (NYT) pointed out that "it was not an event honoring individual sacrifices but rather a military parade for the glory of the nation or its leader, turning uniforms into 'costumes.'"