President Donald Trump’s long-anticipated military parade is set to begin Saturday evening at the Lincoln Memorial, featuring tanks, military bands, and thousands of troops.
The event, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, was added just weeks ago to the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration. However, uncertainty looms over whether weather conditions in Washington or nationwide protests could disrupt or overshadow the parade.
The spectacle has drawn criticism over its potential $45 million cost and concerns that the heavy tanks might damage city streets. In response, the Army has taken measures to prevent road damage, including placing metal plates along the route.
This all-day showcase of the U.S. Army comes amid growing concerns that Trump is using military forces in ways past presidents have largely avoided. His decisions have sparked lawsuits and accusations of politicizing the armed forces.
Most notably, Trump deployed the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to secure Los Angeles during immigration-related protests—marking the first time in six decades that a president has activated the National Guard within a state without that state’s governor’s approval. California Governor Gavin Newsom has since filed a lawsuit to block the deployments.
