$45 Million US Army 250th Anniversary Parade Draws Mixed Reactions and Costs Scrutiny

Washington D.C. – A grand military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army took place on June 14, 2025, in Washington D.C., coinciding with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. The event, which featured over 6,000 troops, 150 military vehicles, and 62 aircraft, faced significant criticism over its estimated cost of $25 to $45 million. Social media users, including Varunram Ganesh, reacted to the spectacle, with Ganesh stating in a tweet, "I know the exact guy who did this."

The parade, officially titled "The 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and Celebration," marked the first such event in Washington D.C. since 1991. President Trump presided over the 90-minute display of military might, which included historical units and modern equipment. The event was part of broader celebrations for the United States Semiquincentennial.

The high projected cost, initially estimated at $25-$45 million by the Army, drew bipartisan concern, with some critics highlighting potential damage to city streets, estimated at up to $16 million. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the expenditure, stating, "Trump squandering $45 million in taxpayer dollars on a military parade for his birthday is the epitome of government waste." President Trump, however, defended the cost, calling it "peanuts compared to the value of doing it."

Controversy also arose from the parade's timing on President Trump's birthday, leading to accusations of politicizing the military. Critics argued the event served to boost Trump's image, drawing comparisons to military displays in authoritarian regimes. Despite this, Trump maintained the parade was a celebration of Flag Day and the military, not his personal birthday.

Public reaction was divided, with some veterans expressing pride in the display of military strength, while others, like the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Northern Virginia, refused to participate, feeling it was "being conflated with Trump's birthday." Millions of demonstrators participated in "No Kings" protests nationwide, opposing the parade and the administration's policies, further highlighting the polarized reception of the event.