Trump Wants A Massive Military Parade In Washington, D.C. On His Birthday

President Donald Trump wants a military parade on his birthday in Washington, D.C., on June 14.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering adding a parade that would stretch almost four miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River, and into D.C.

In 2018, Trump had to cancel a military parade that was to “honor America’s military veterans and commemorate the centennial of World War I” because it would have cost $92 million.

The Army is in early discussions about possibly adding a parade to the Army’s 250th birthday festival, which is being held June 14, according to an anonymous defense official.

The Army birthday festival, which has been in the planning stages for almost two years, will include many activities and displays on the National Mall, such as Army Stryker armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters and other equipment.

The Washington City Paper reported on April 6 that Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis told them that no official request for assistance was made to his county.

Karantonis also told the outlet that Arlington was given a “heads up” about the parade on Friday by the White House, but with no stable details.

“It’s not clear to me what the scope of a parade would be,” the chairman stated. “But I would hope the federal government remains sensitive to the pain and concerns of numerous [military] veteran residents who have lost or might lose their jobs in recent federal decisions as they reflect on how best to celebrate the Army’s anniversary.”

During a news conference on April 7, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the plans appeared to call for a “military” parade that would stretch from the Pentagon to the White House.

Bowser also said she did not know if the event was being “characterized as a military parade” but noted that the use of heavy equipment might damage Washington’s streets for millions.

She mentioned that military tanks rolling through the city’s streets “would not be good.”

“If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with millions of dollars to repair the roads,” she pointed out.

Bowser and Karantonis said that parade plans were in the preliminary stages.

The mayor told reporters that administration officials contacted Washington’s special events task force.

Karantonis said in a statement that the Secret Service contacted the county on Friday “regarding the possibility of a military parade to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army, but no further details were offered.”

However, the White House told Politico that “no military parade has been scheduled.”

“It’s too early to say yet whether or not we’re having a parade, but we’re working with the White House as well as several government agencies to make the celebration a national-level event,” Col. David Butler, an Army spokesman, told reporters.