WASHINGTON — Hundreds of troops descended on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, accompanied by dozens of tanks and helicopters overhead, for President Donald Trump‘s high-profile spectacle to mark the Military’s 250th anniversary.
Trump, whose 79th birthday falls on the identical day, has lengthy pushed for a army parade within the nation’s capital — an concept that was swatted down throughout his first time period by Pentagon officers.
US President Donald Trump (L) salutes subsequent to US First Woman Melania Trump through the Military 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Photographs
Now, with full management of presidency and an administration stacked with loyalists, Trump is getting the grandiose present of drive he is at all times envisioned — even whether it is drawing critics.
A variety of Trump’s cupboard members joined him on the parade, together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump was additionally accompanied on stage by his spouse, First Woman Melania Trump.
The parade began about thirty minutes sooner than initially deliberate as a result of thunderstorms anticipated in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night.
A few of the flyovers deliberate for the parade have been cancelled as a result of climate, NBC Information reported, per a U.S. Secret Service official.
Troopers gesture as they experience a tank throughout a army parade to commemorate the U.S. Military’s 250th Birthday in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
The parade is among the many starkest examples but of Trump flexing his position as commander-in-chief since taking workplace.
Because the festivities unfolded in Washington, D.C., a few of Trump’s opponents gathered throughout the nation as a part of “No Kings Day” demonstrations to protest his administration’s insurance policies.
Protests have been scheduled in almost 2,000 cities and cities throughout the U.S., in accordance with the occasion’s web site.
A No Kings sticker is caught on a submit as individuals in classic uniforms march previous throughout a army parade to commemorate the U.S. Military’s 250th Birthday in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
It was a vivid break up display, and comes in opposition to the backdrop of ongoing tensions in Los Angeles which have escalated since Trump deployed the Nationwide Guard to quell protests over immigration enforcement polices.
In the meantime, in Minnesota, law enforcement officers warned the general public to not attend the deliberate demonstrations throughout the state on Saturday following focused shootings of Democratic state lawmakers in a single day.
Earlier this week, Trump issued a stark warning that any protesters in Washington, D.C., can be met with “very large drive.”
Safety officers mentioned they weren’t anticipating widespread counterprotests within the nation’s capital, however they have been monitoring any potential exercise.
Troopers take part within the U.S. Military’s army parade to commemorate the Military’s 250th Birthday, on the day of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
The parade additionally comes amid escalating tensions within the Center East, following Israel’s assaults on Iran’s nuclear websites, and Iran’s retaliatory assaults.
All through the day, there have been army demonstrations and a wreath laying on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
It was anticipated to be the most important army parade in Washington, D.C., since 1991, when President George H. W. Bush held a army parade on the conclusion of the Gulf Battle.
Troopers wearing Revolutionary Battle uniforms march within the army parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Photographs
“It’s going to give downtown Moscow or downtown Beijing vibes, it’s going to really feel like an entire nother authoritarian, communist nation,” Arizona-based Republican strategist Barrett Marson informed CNBC.
One specific sticking level for critics of the occasion, together with some Republicans, was its excessive price ticket.
Altogether, the occasion may price as much as $45 million, in accordance with an Military spokesperson.
The parade’s price has come beneath heavy criticism as congressional Republicans try to go the “One Large Lovely Invoice Act,” which incorporates tax cuts for enterprise house owners, traders and owners in high-tax areas that may add an estimated $4 trillion or extra to the federal deficit.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., mentioned he wouldn’t “spend the cash” on the occasion if it have been as much as him, NBC Information reviews.
Most U.S. adults are likely to agree, in accordance with a ballot out Thursday from The Related Press-NORC Heart for Public Affairs Analysis that discovered that 60% of adults surveyed mentioned the army parade isn’t a very good use of presidency funds.
U.S. Military troopers work on an assortment of M1 Alpha a3 Abrams tanks, stryker armored automobiles, and M2 Bradley combating automobiles at West Potomac Park alongside the Potomac River on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik | Getty Photographs
However for Trump, the associated fee is “peanuts in comparison with the worth of doing it,” he mentioned in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” final month.
“We now have the best missiles on this planet. We now have the best submarines on this planet. We now have the best Military tanks on this planet. We now have the best weapons on this planet,” Trump informed NBC Information’ Kristen Welker.
“And we’ll rejoice it.”
This can be a growing story and can be up to date all through the day.
