Detailed army plans for a potentialmilitaryparade onDonald Trump’sbirthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple of thousand civilians, the Associated Press has learned.
The planning documents, obtained by the AP, are dated 29 and 30 April and have not been publicly released. They represent the army’s most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element – a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed.
The army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday on 14 June.
While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would probably cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.
High costs halted Trump’s push for a parade in his first term, and the tanks and other heavy vehicles that are part of the army’s latest plans have raised concerns from city officials about damage to roads.
Asked about plans for a parade, an army spokesperson, Steve Warren, said on Thursday that no final decisions have been made.
Col Dave Butler, another army spokesman, added that the army was excited about the plans for its anniversary.
“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” said Butler. “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.”
Others familiar with the documents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been finalized, said they represent the army’s plans as it prepares for any White House approval of the parade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
There has been no formal approval yet. Changes to the plans have been made in recent weeks and more are likely.
In a Truth Social post on Thursday night that did not mention the 14 June plans, Trump wrote, “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” He vowed to rename 8 May, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as “Victory Day for World War II”, and to change 11 November, Veterans Day, to “Victory Day for World War I”.
Some equipment and troops were already going to be included in the army’s birthday celebration, which has been in the works for more than a year. The festival was set to involve an array of activities and displays on the National Mall, including a fitness competition, climbing wall, armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters and other equipment.
A parade, however, would increase the equipment and troops involved. According to the plans, as many as 6,300 of the service members would be marching in the parade, while the remainder would be responsible for other tasks and support.
The plans say the parade would showcase the army’s 250 years of service and foresee bringing in soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. Those could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, howitzers and infantry vehicles.
There would be seven army bands and a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. And documents suggest that civilian participants would include historical vehicles and aircraft and two bands, along with people from veterans groups, military colleges and re-enactor organizations.
In his first term, Trump proposed having a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Élysées that he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue.
That plan was ultimately dumped due to the huge costs – with one estimate of a $92m price tag – and other logistical issues. Among those were objections from city officials who said including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear up the roads.