A parade in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the armed providers and coinciding with the birthday of President Donald Trump, kicked off Saturday with a grand displaying of the army’s energy all through the Nationwide Mall.
Eighty-four army automobiles, together with 28 Abrams tanks, 6,700 marching troopers and different army shows, have been all on faucet for the celebration, which additionally occurred to fall on Trump’s 79th birthday.
ABC Information noticed some individuals within the crowd sporting MAGA hats and others burst into singing “Completely satisfied Birthday,” because the parade was about to start. The parade began a half hour early — at 6 p.m. — as a result of climate.
President Donald Trump and First Woman Melania Trump together with others collect on stage to observe the Military 250th Anniversary Parade from the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Pictures
Members of the united statesArmy cross Arlington Memorial Bridge to start out the parade down Structure Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Military, June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Pictures
Members of the united statesArmy cross Arlington Memorial Bridge to start out the parade down Structure Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Military, June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Pictures
Who’s in attendance?
President Donald and first girl Melania Trump attend a army parade to commemorate the U.S. Military’s 250th Birthday, on the day of his 79th birthday, in Washington, D.C., June 14, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Trump arrived with First Woman Melania Trump, watching the procession march down Structure Avenue from a viewing stand close to the White Home. Trump stood and saluted the troops as they handed.
Additionally in attendance have been Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Military soldier and Guardsman, and Vice President JD Vance, a Marine veteran, and his household.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who served within the Nationwide Guard, additionally attended.
Vice President JD Vance, Second Woman Usha Vance and their son arrive to observe the Military 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Pictures
President Donald Trump, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth and first girl Melania Trump gesture whereas they take heed to the U.S. nationwide anthem throughout the U.S. Military’s 250th Birthday parade, on the identical day of President Donald Trump 79th birthday, in Washington, D.C., June 14, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Members of the U.S. Military Parachute Crew participate in a army parade to commemorate the U.S. Military’s 250th Birthday in Washington, D.C., June 14, 2025.
Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters
A member of the Golden Knights, the US Military’s parachute demonstration and competitors staff, lands in entrance of the White Home throughout the Military 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Pictures
Because the parade kicked off, troopers marched in uniforms that represented America’s largest armed conflicts from the Revolutionary Conflict to the Conflict on Terror.
A World Conflict I period car passes the reviewing stand as President Donald Trump attends a army parade commemorating the Military’s 250th anniversary, coinciding along with his 79th birthday, June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Troopers wearing World Conflict I uniforms march within the army parade, on June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum/Getty Pictures
Troopers wearing Revolutionary Conflict uniforms march initially of the army parade, on June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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Crowds didn’t look like packed via the aspect streets all through the Mall.
Guests collect close to the Washington Monument to observe a parade and celebration marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Military, June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
Folks watch the Military 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Pictures
Structure Avenue stands empty forward of the US military 250th anniversary parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP through Getty Pictures
Towards the top of the occasion, Trump will obtain a flag from a soldier who will parachute onto the White Home Ellipse.
After that, the president will give the oath of enlistment to some 250 troopers.
When requested Thursday what he hopes the general public will bear in mind concerning the American parade, Trump stated, “How nice our nation is, quite simple, and the way robust our army is.”
“We’ve got the strongest army on the planet,” he added.
The occasion concludes with fireworks over the Tidal Basin.
Members of the united statesArmy parade down Structure Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Military, June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum/Getty Pictures
The Military stated it has accounted for spending between $25 million and $45 million on the parade, staged on or close to the Nationwide Mall.
About 6 in 10 People say that Saturday’s parade is “not a very good use” of presidency cash, in accordance with a brand new ballot from The Related Press-NORC Heart for Public Affairs Analysis.
Democrats have slammed the occasion and its prices.
“Cash must be put in medical protection analysis as a substitute of wasted on some pomp and circumstance for the president,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-In poor health., stated throughout a Senate Appropriations Committee listening to with Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday. “This isn’t in line with what the women and men in uniform deserve.”
Safety was tight following a number of latest occasions, together with the continuing state of affairs between Israel and Iran and the protests that came about in Los Angeles final weekend. As well as, safety has been on alert following the targeted shooting of two Minnesota state legislators and their spouses earlier within the day.
A view exhibits The White Home constructing because the preparations proceed for the U.S. Military’s 250th Birthday Competition and Parade in Washington, June 13, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
Trump’s parade got here hours after a whole lot of 1000’s of protesters gathered throughout the nation in mass protests dubbed “No Kings Day.”
From New York to San Francisco and in small cities, protesters stayed peaceable marching down streets with indicators and chants in opposition to the administration’s insurance policies, together with its elevated deportation and ICE raids.
Folks have a look at a army helicopter with the Capitol within the background, June 13, 2025, on the Nationwide Mall in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Trump disregarded the protests when requested about them Thursday.
Troops put together for the upcoming U.S. Military 250th anniversary celebration parade, in Washington, D.C., June 13, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
“I do not really feel like a king. I’ve to undergo hell to get stuff accredited. A king would say I’m not gonna get this,” he stated. “No, no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king in any respect.”
