Costs Expected to Reach Tens of Millions of Dollars
Tanks and Helicopters to Participate in Parade
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing to hold a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14, his birthday. The same day also marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army.
In 2017, during his visit to France, U.S. President Donald Trump watched the Bastille military parade with French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo by AP
On May 2 (local time), the White House announced that a military parade will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 14 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Army.
According to internal Army documents obtained by the Associated Press, more than 6,600 troops from 11 corps and divisions across the country are expected to participate in the parade. Around 150 military vehicles, including tanks and armored vehicles, as well as 50 helicopters, are also scheduled to appear. The event will also include special forces demonstration teams, military bands, and veterans' organizations.
This is not the first time President Trump has shown a strong desire for a large-scale military parade. In 2017, during his first term, he was inspired by the French Bastille military parade and attempted a similar event, but it was canceled due to the budget burden of approximately $92 million (about 130 billion KRW) and logistical and operational challenges.
Although the exact budget for this parade has not been disclosed, officials expect that tens of millions of dollars in spending will be unavoidable. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed strong concerns, stating, "If tanks appear in the city center, road repairs alone could cost millions of dollars."
According to AFP, the last military parade held in Washington, D.C. was in 1991 to celebrate victory in the Gulf War.
Meanwhile, President Trump stated, "We no longer celebrate our victories," and announced plans to newly designate May 8 as Victory in World War II Day and November 11 as Victory in World War I Day. However, these proposals have not yet been formalized as executive orders.
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