cover 53
President Donald Trump is reportedly organizing a grand military parade through Washington D.C. to mark his 79th birthday, with an estimated price tag of at least $92 million.
This plan comes amid the ongoing global economic fallout from the president’s wide-reaching new tariffs.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed on Monday that the Trump administration had contacted the city regarding a parade planned for June 14, in celebration of the president’s 79th birthday. The proposed parade would begin in Arlington, Virginia—home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery—crossing the Potomac River into Washington, D.C.
This date already coincides with the Army’s 250th birthday festival, a major celebration that has been in the works for over a year. However, the idea of incorporating a parade into the existing event was raised more recently through discussions between the Army and the White House.
Bowser explained: “I think it was Homeland Security, maybe the White House, that reached out to our special events task force, which is what most people wanting to do a parade do in the district. So, I would say it’s at its early stages.”
She added: “Yes, they have reached out. I don’t know if it’s being characterized as a military parade.”
Trump’s desire for a self-celebratory military parade dates back to his first term, when he envisioned military planes flying overhead and tanks roaring through the streets.
However, the plans were abruptly canceled after local and military officials warned that the parade’s cost could exceed $92 million, and that the heavy military vehicles would damage the roadways.
In an angry post on X.com at the time, Trump vented: “The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it.
“When asked to give us a price for holding a great celebratory military parade, they wanted a number so ridiculously high that I canceled it. Never let someone hold you up!”
Plans for the extravagant parade come as the nation’s economy grapples with the aftermath of Trump’s tariff plan, which introduced a baseline 10% tariff on all imported goods, as well as individualized tariffs of up to 50% on specific countries and regions.
The tariffs have had a significant impact on the stock market in recent days, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all dropping by more than 5%.
Although markets showed some recovery on Tuesday morning, the prospect of further tariffs aimed specifically at China has caused lingering uncertainty.
Nevertheless, sources close to Trump suggest he isn’t reconsidering his stance. One aide commented, “If the economy tanks, then fine, the economy tanks – because the president genuinely believes it will rebound and that other countries will ultimately concede.”
