Majority Republicans Avoid Trump's $45M Birthday Military Parade

President Donald Trump’s extravagant military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with his 79th birthday, has faced widespread Republican reluctance to attend, with only about seven out of 50 GOP lawmakers planning to be present. The parade, costing an estimated $45 million and featuring thousands of soldiers, tanks, and aircraft, has been criticized by some Republicans as a wasteful, North Korea-style display of military might. Top Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and other key congressional figures, have declined to attend, often citing other commitments or avoiding direct answers about the event's cost. Several prominent Republicans, such as Senator Rand Paul, openly opposed the parade, comparing it to autocratic spectacles, while others gave reasons ranging from personal events to campaigning duties for skipping the event. Despite the absence of many senior GOP lawmakers, staunch Trump supporters like Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Byron Donalds, and Elise Stefanik have committed to attending. The White House has downplayed the absences, but the parade remains controversial amid ongoing debates about government spending and Trump’s use of military displays for personal celebration.