Marching toward history: Trump plans parade to honour 250 years of US Army

The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to stage a major military parade on June 14 in honour of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

Vince Haley, head of the White House Domestic Policy Council, confirmed the news in a statement to Fox News Digital, describing the event as a grand tribute to generations of American service members.

“President Trump is planning a grand celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which will pay tribute to all generations of American heroes,” Haley said. He noted that the date of the parade will also coincide with Trump’s birthday and the anniversary of the deaths of the first patriots of the American Revolutionary War, adding symbolic weight to the occasion.

The parade is expected to serve as the centrepiece of the broader anniversary celebrations. Organisers plan to feature reenactors representing every major conflict in U.S. history, current military personnel, cadets from military academies, and displays of modern military equipment.

Although a final decision on the parade has not yet been made, and formal White House approval is still pending, documents obtained by the Associated Press and dated April 29 and 30 reveal that preparations are already well underway. According to the internal planning files, the proposed event envisions more than 6,600 service members participating, along with at least 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven marching bands, and potentially thousands of civilian participants. The documents reflect what could become the most high-profile national event tied to the anniversary and may also fulfil Trump’s long-expressed desire to hold a military parade in Washington, DC.

Army spokesman Steve Warren confirmed on May 1 that planning for the event is ongoing, though no official authorisation has been granted. “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,” said Col. Dave Butler, also speaking on behalf of the Army.

Sources close to the planning process say that the idea of a parade was not part of the original 250th anniversary agenda but has gained momentum over recent weeks. If approved, roughly 6,300 service members would take part in the parade itself, with the rest supporting logistics and coordination efforts. The proposed parade would be designated as a National Special Security Event — a status that enhances federal security coordination — and the National Park Service has already submitted a request for this classification, which is currently under review.

In addition to the daytime military spectacle, plans also call for an evening concert and a fireworks show to conclude the event.

Though no official cost estimate has been released, the scale of the proposed operation suggests an expense in the tens of millions of dollars. Financial concerns were a major reason why a similar parade, proposed by Trump in 2018 and modelled after France’s Bastille Day celebrations, was ultimately cancelled. That earlier plan was shelved following backlash over its projected $92 million cost and concerns raised by Washington city officials over the damage heavy military vehicles could inflict on city infrastructure.

By Tamilla Hasanova