U.S. Army parade draws crowd
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington.
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, dress in World War II era uniforms, march past the reviewing stand with President Donald Trump during a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington.
WASHINGTON D.C. — About 6,600 soldiers marched in a parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday Saturday on what is not only the Army’s birthday, but President Donald Trump’s as well.
The procession included units dressed in historic gear as well as a wide variety of military equipment, including M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Fifty helicopters flew over the heads of what organizers estimated was about 200,000 attendees. A Sherman tank, long retired from active use, even made an appearance.
The parade began at 6 p.m. ET, a half hour earlier than initially planned due to weather concerns in the area.
Earlier in the week, Trump had said the parade was a chance to celebrate America’s military.
"I think it's time for us to celebrate a little bit, you know," he said. "We've had a lot of victories.”
Specifically, Trump mentioned the U.S. contributions to victory in World War I and World War II.
Trump stood and saluted during the Gulf War section of the parade and pumped his fist as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, sitting next to him, gave a thumbs up.
A guitar riff blasted over the speakers as the M1 Abrams tanks rolled past.
The crowd included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife Jeanette, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Along the parade route, a variety of service members monitored the parade — from uniformed members of the U.S. Park Police to Secret Service officers to uniformed Army members.
The parade was held concurrently with protests
across the U.S. with the theme “No Kings,” with protestors noting Trump’s aborted attempts to hold military parades on his birthdays during his first term and what they feel are overreaches of presidential power during Trump’s current term.
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, dress in World War II era uniforms, march past the reviewing stand with President Donald Trump during a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington.