There could be a military parade on President Donald Trump’s birthday this June.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, detailed Army plans for the potential parade are set to include more than 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, and seven bands.
The documents are yet to be released but are dated April 29 and 30, and represent the plans for the 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and a large military parade that will fall on the president’s 79th birthday on June 14.
As AP notes, “The Army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14.”
Although the slides don’t provide specific cost estimates, organizing a parade of this scale would likely require tens of millions of dollars. Expenses would encompass transporting military vehicles, equipment, aircraft, and personnel from various locations across the country to Washington, as well as covering food and accommodations for thousands of service members.
City officials have also raised concerns over the damage heavy military equipment might do to the roads. Army spokesman Steve Warren told the AP that no final decisions had yet been made.
Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesman, also told the AP that the Army is excited about the anniversary plans.
“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” Butler said. “We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.”
Individuals familiar with the documents, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the plans not being finalized, stated that they reflect the Army’s preparations in anticipation of potential White House approval for the parade.
Trump wrote about the upcoming anniversary plans in a Truth Social post Thursday night.
“Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II,” Trump said. “I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything — That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
