On June 14, military tanks will begin a procession down Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. as a component of the largest domestic military parade in contemporary American history. This parade marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army, Flag Day, and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. However, behind the patriotic banners and grand flyovers lies a significant amount of turmoil and a battle over symbolism, civil liberties, and the militarization of public spaces.
Military parades have long been a source of interest for President Trump. In 2017, he traveled to France to attend the Bastille Day ceremony in Paris, and after returning, he spoke often about hosting a parade. This idea was shut down by White House aides, who cautioned him about the substantial cost of a parade and the lack of precedent for American parades to showcase their military hardware.
However, the president’s vision of a grandiose parade has finally won out. Although the Army birthday celebration had been in the works for months, Trump transformed the proposal of an anniversary parade into a massive show of military force, complete with battle tanks and howitzers. US law enforcement is now preparing for “an enormous turnout” of hundreds of thousands of attendees. The US Army is deploying 6,500 troops to D.C., along with 150 military vehicles and 50 aircraft.
Reagan National Airport is also closing down arrivals and departures due to aircraft flyovers and fireworks during the event. 18 miles of “anti-scale fencing” have been erected, and multiple drones have been commissioned to circle in the air, despite DC normally being a no-fly zone. The event has been classified as a National Special Security Event, which has also been used to label presidential inauguration ceremonies and state funerals. The classification requires D.C., FBI, Capitol Police, and National Guard coordination to be on standby for the high-security event.
There is also the expectation of severe disruption to Washington, D.C.. The parade will cover core downtown streets, likely displacing tourists and disrupting normal city life. The city will also bear a significant financial burden. Although the Army expects minimal damage to D.C. roads from tanks, it has budgeted $16 million for road repairs, although no written agreement exists to reimburse the city. Additionally, D.C. will pay upfront for the overtime hours of police officers (every officer has been ordered to work a 12-hour shift for the parade) and the flights of more than 50 helicopters, with the hope that the city will be paid back.
Overall, the Army has estimated that the parade will cost taxpayers up to $45 million. NBC News4 has calculated that $45 million could cover the salary and benefits costs for 307 federal employees for a year. The cost would also fully cover D.C.’s Tuition Assistance Program, which aids D.C. students in paying for college. Trump’s proposed budget plans to cut the $40 million program. The enormous cost of the parade also comes at a time when federal budgets for education, healthcare, research, and veteran benefits have been slashed.
Although the parade technically celebrates the Army’s anniversary, it coincides with Trump’s birthday. The president has framed the parade as a show of patriotism, but critics have described it as showmanship. Historian Heather Cox Richardson has referred to the parade as a sign of Trump’s “aspirations to authoritarianism.”
Even Republicans have been reluctant to defend the parade. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) told the Huffington Post that a military parade evokes images of the former Soviet Union and North Korea. At the same time, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) expressed concern to Fox News over the high cost of the parade and the unnecessary display of US hard power. His point resonates as the US has traditionally never used active-duty troops for domestic political events, only for victory parades after wartime. During the event, the Capitol and the Mall, symbols of democracy and civilian rule, will temporarily become sites for military showmanship.
Veterans have had polarizing reactions to the parade. Some believe that the event is a show of a vital institution and honors its rich history while giving Americans greater visibility into military service. However, others argue that the parade is a “facade” to cover up Trump’s policies that have targeted veterans and service members, like cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a ban on transgender troops. One retired Marine even pointedly said the president is hosting the parade to see troops saluting him on his birthday.
Of course, the military parade has been met with a strong and adverse reaction by many Americans. Community organizers have labeled June 14 “No Kings” Day as they rebel against what they have labeled a grab for power and a dangerous normalization of authoritarian military spectacle. More than 1,800 rallies (No Kings events, community gatherings, and civil disobedience trainings) have reportedly been planned in all 50 states, and multiple counter-protests will be taking place in D.C., including a “No Kings” march toward the White House.
Regardless of the true intention of the parade, it certainly marks a break in American tradition and blurs the line between civilian governance and a military spectacle. As tanks roll past the Capitol and troops proceed through the country’s capital, questions remain about power, democracy, and the potential emergence of an autocratic government in arguably the most powerful country in the world.