Trump’s $45 million military parade draws backlash as birthday celebration nears

Trump’s $45 million military parade draws backlash as birthday celebration nears

A military parade set to roll through Washington on June 14 — coinciding with both the US Army’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 79th birthday — is drawing sharp political backlash over its cost and symbolism. According to defence officials, the event could cost up to $45 million, not including cleanup and potential street damage caused by tanks and other heavy vehicles, the New York Times reported.

Tanks, warplanes and troops in a spectacle of power
The Army’s plan includes up to 24 M1 Abrams tanks, 150 military vehicles, 50 warplanes, and over 6,600 service members. It will also feature musical performances, equipment displays, and a daylong festival across Washington. Soldiers brought in for the parade will sleep in unused government buildings on cots and receive three meals and a stipend daily, the Pentagon confirmed.

Costs and logistics raise concerns
While the projected $45 million cost has already sparked criticism, officials noted that this figure excludes any post-parade road repairs from the tank traffic. During Trump’s first term, a similar Veterans Day parade idea was scrapped after cost objections from within his own administration.

A personal celebration or a national tribute?
Supporters, including US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, defend the parade as a way to honour American service members. “How about we recognise the Army and the Marine Corps?” Hegseth said earlier this month, framing the event as a long-overdue tribute to the military’s sacrifice.

But critics see political spectacle. Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced legislation that would bar using federal funds for military parades “primarily intended to celebrate the birthday, personal milestone, or private interest of any individual, including President Donald J. Trump.” He accused Trump of “wasting taxpayer dollars burnishing his insatiable ego.”

A rare show of force in American streets
While military parades are routine in countries like France, China, and North Korea, they remain uncommon in the United States, where public military displays are often viewed with caution. Trump has long expressed admiration for such displays abroad and previously pushed for similar events during his first term.

Protests and political fallout
Anti-parade protests are planned in Washington and other cities, with activists calling the event excessive, politically motivated, and misaligned with American democratic values. With Trump seeking to boost public support amid a divisive re-election year, critics worry that the parade crosses a line between commemoration and personal aggrandisement.