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Over the weekend in Washington, D.C., a grand military parade was hosted to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
The event featured 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, including 26 M1A1 Abrams tanks, and 50 aircraft, drawing an estimated 200,000 spectators along Constitution Avenue. The parade, costing between $25 million and $45 million, aimed to honor the Army’s history and boost recruitment, with Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, emphasizing its role in showcasing military strength. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) supported the parade, calling it an “appropriate” celebration of the Army’s service, despite facing backlash from progressive Democrats.
Critics, including Democrats like Senator Tammy Duckworth, slammed the parade as a costly “birthday party” for Trump, arguing the funds could better support veterans’ services. Republican Senator Rand Paul criticized the parade’s optics, likening it to displays in authoritarian regimes like North Korea and expressing discomfort with “goose-stepping soldiers and tanks.” Other Republicans, such as Senator Ron Johnson, questioned the expense, with many GOP lawmakers skipping the event citing prior commitments.
The event was part of America250’s broader plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, with the next major military parade expected in July 2026 to mark the U.S. semiquincentennial.
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