AP Obtains Plans for Massive Military Parade on Trump’s Birthday

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

The Associated Press obtained plans for a celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary on President Donald Trump’s birthday, complete with helicopters and thousands of soldiers. Last month, the AP reported that discussions of a parade on Trump’s birthday were in the works, but had few details to share, though a price tag of about $92 million had been floated and criticized.

The plans, which have not been publicly released, were dated April 29 and April 30, the AP said in a report published on Thursday night:

They represent the Army’s most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element — a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed.

The Army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14.

While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.

The report said the current plans call for 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, and 50 helicopters to participate in the event.

“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler told the AP. “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.”

In Trump’s first term, the president canceled a proposed military parade in 2017. The following year on Independence Day, he held a “Salute to America” event featuring military vehicles, a flyover, and fireworks.