U.S. Army Holds 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington D.C.

The U.S. Army is preparing for a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14 to mark its 250th anniversary and coincide with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. The event will feature approximately 6,700 soldiers, over 100 heavy military vehicles including M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, 50 aircraft, and various other elements, with an estimated cost in the tens of millions of dollars. Military vehicles arrived in the capital days ahead, with soldiers actively preparing and maintaining tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopters at West Potomac Park, near the National Mall. The parade has drawn criticism amid ongoing protests against immigration enforcement and troop deployments to Los Angeles, with Trump warning that any protests during the parade will be met with heavy force. Despite some peaceful protests in LA, Trump ordered thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to the city, a move that has sparked political tension with California’s Democratic governor. The parade is also prompting concerns about road damage in Washington due to the heavy military equipment and has sparked nationwide protests, though organizers of large-scale demonstrations chose not to hold events in D.C. itself.