Donald Trump is planning a military parade to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Army and his own birthday in June , reports suggest.
The Associated Press has obtained unreleased documents dated April 29 and April 30, detailing extravagant plans including 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands, and thousands of civilians.
These documents outline the Army's most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall, with the addition of a large military parade that Trump has long desired. Reports indicate the Army anniversary will coincide with Trump's 79th birthday on June 14.
If this celebration goes ahead, Trump would join an exclusive list of authoritarian leaders who have had a military parade for their birthday, such as Kim Jong Un, Adolf Hitler, and Saddam Hussein. Although the documents do not provide any cost estimates, it is likely that a parade of this magnitude would cost tens of millions of dollars, considering the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft, and troops from across the country to Washington, as well as the need to feed and house thousands of service members.
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The White House has yet to respond to the AP's report.
Army spokesmen have yet to give a final nod for a celebratory parade, with Col. Dave Butler indicating the Army's eagerness for the upcoming anniversary.
"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, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned," voiced Butler, reports the Mirror US .
On Truth Social, former President Trump didn't specifically mention the June 14 plans but declared a return to celebrating national triumphs: "We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" He made bold promises to rename key historical dates, including making Victory in Europe Day "Victory Day for World War II," and Veterans Day into "Victory Day for World War I."
It's unprecedented for U.S. presidents to have large-scale military parades for their birthdays—a practice more often seen in authoritarian countries such as North Korea or Soviet Russia.
The United States has historically reserved military pageantry for inaugurations, national holidays, Desert Storm’s victory, and World War II parades, never linking them to presidential birthdays.
Some former commanders-in-chief did enjoy forms of birthday recognition, though none as extravagant as military parades.
Globally, military demonstrations on leaders' birthdays are typical in some regions, highlighting the distinction between American traditions and those of other nations.
When does Trump celebrate his big day?
Born on June 14, 1946, Trump edges closer to his 79th year this time around, sharing his special day with Flag Day in the United States.
Flag Day falls on June 14th every year, honoring the date when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes in 1777. Although recognized across the country, it’s only Pennsylvania that gives it the nod as an official public holiday.
Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge called for national recognition of the date as Flag Day, and it wasn't until 1949 that Congress sanctioned the day, subsequently signed into law by President Harry Truman.
What’s the online reaction to a potential Trump birthday parade?
The digital world reacted sharply to talks revealed by AP about a possible military parade aligning with Trump's birthday, not holding back criticism or sarcasm.
On platform X, an anti-Trump user group known as Republicans against Trump vented, "Cutting cancer research while wasting money on this? Shameful.
"DOGE is making our city fire healthcare workers, but they can afford a $92 million military parade for Trump's birthday. This is the stupidity I'm talking about! ! ! !" one social media user exclaimed, targeting the sweeping federal cuts enforced by the Trump administration post-recommendations from Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to snip waste and alleged fraud.
Speaking on Trump's itch for a birthday military parade, Bill Maher quipped, "Oh goody, tanks in the streets."
While Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist during Trump's initial term, weighed in with, "It's a way to inspire young men and women to join the military."
American journalist Josh Rogin, joining the panel debate, sarcastically added, "Kim Jong Un loves it. Putin, Xi Jinping," nodding at Bannon, which prompted Maher to chime in with his view that he'd rather keep military tanks off American streets.