US President Donald Trump is reportedly keen on throwing a grand birthday celebration that includes a “big military parade” to honour both himself and the American armed forces. The Washington DC Mayor has cautioned the administration to consider the sentiments of veterans left jobless by tycoon Elon Musk.
Despite concerns, the Trump team is said to be mulling over a parade on June 14th, which coincides with Flag Day, as per a Sunday report in the Washington City Paper. An insider informed the alternative weekly that the parade would kick off at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, make its way through Washington, DC and conclude at the White House.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, during a Monday press briefing, acknowledged that the city’s authorities had received a parade proposal, although she was uncertain whether it was specifically described as a military parade, reports the Mirror US.
“I don’t know if it’s been characterised as a military parade, but maybe it has, I haven’t been directly involved in it yet. I understand that I think it was Homeland Security maybe the White House reached out to our special events task-force, which is what most people wanting to do a parade to in the District,” Bowser stated.
“So I would say that it’s at its early stages, yes they have reached out, I don’t know if it’s being characterised as a military parade,” she further commented. The journalist highlighted that initial suggestions of a military parade by Trump raised concerns about whether the streets of DC could handle tanks rolling through them.
Mayor Bowser acknowledged, “Yeah, military tanks on our streets would not be good,” and added that if they were used, they should be accompanied by substantial funding to repair the roads.
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Initially, she thought a military parade was being planned when she heard the Pentagon was being considered as a venue. Moreover, a march would “require a test” to cross the 14th Street Bridge.
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis told the City Paper that although no official request had been made, the White House had given the county an informal notice about a parade on Friday.
Karantonis expressed, “It’s not clear to me what the scope of a parade would be,” and added, “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.”
The initiative led by Musk, through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has led to thousands of federal employees, including veterans, being removed from government payrolls. During his first term, the president had initially planned a military parade but decided against it due to the estimated $92 million cost.
During one of his initial overseas trips as the US President, Trump paid a visit to French President Emmanuel Macron for the Bastille Day festivities in Paris back in 2017, where he was captivated by the military-style parade on display.
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