Plan to Showcase Army's History Through Large-Scale Parade, Says AP
More than 6,600 soldiers are expected to participate in a large-scale military parade reportedly being prepared by the U.S. Army to coincide with President Donald Trump's birthday this year.
On May 2, Yonhap News reported, citing internal military documents obtained by the Associated Press, that the U.S. Army plans to mobilize soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide for the parade.
The U.S. Army intends to showcase its history with a large-scale parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, marking the 250th anniversary of the Army's founding. Coincidentally, this day is also President Trump's 79th birthday.
Previously, on April 7, U.S. media outlets had simultaneously reported that the White House had ordered preparations for a military parade. However, at that time, the White House denied the existence of any such plan, stating that the reports were not true.
However, according to confidential military documents obtained by the AP, the U.S. Army plans to deploy about 150 vehicles, including Stryker armored vehicles, tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Paladin howitzers, as well as around 50 helicopters and other aircraft. Seven Army bands and the 'Golden Knights' parachute demonstration team from the Army Special Operations Command are also scheduled to perform. In addition, veterans' organizations and representatives from military academies are expected to participate.
Initially, the Army did not include a parade in its plans for the Army Day celebration. However, following a directive from the White House last month, a parade was added to the ceremony, and the military has since been working out the details. The obtained documents indicate that the parade has been classified as a 'National Special Security Event.'
At a Labor Day rally held in Philadelphia on the 1st (local time), a man wearing a shirt that reads "No King" is criticizing President Trump. Photo by AP Yonhap News
The Associated Press reported that while the Army has been preparing for this event for a long time, it is also an event that President Trump has long desired. Other sources clarified that the documents represent the Army's proposal and still require approval from the White House. The White House did not respond to AP's inquiries on the matter.
Previously, during his first term in 2017, after witnessing the French military parade on Bastille Day, President Trump directly ordered an even grander parade to be held in the United States. However, his plan at the time was scrapped due to several practical issues: the enormous cost, which was estimated at $92 million (about 135.2 billion won); the logistical challenge of assembling combat equipment in Washington, D.C.; and the risk of damaging city roads by operating heavy armored vehicles such as tanks.
Meanwhile, on Labor Day, May 1, large-scale rallies opposing President Trump's policies were held simultaneously across the United States and around the world. At these rallies, slogans such as 'Hands Off,' criticizing President Trump's excessive use of executive orders in disregard of the Constitution, and banners reading 'No Kings,' criticizing his authoritarian attitude, were prominently displayed.
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