President Donald Trump is set to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary and his own 79th birthday with a lavish military parade in Washington, a multimillion-dollar event designed to showcase the nation’s military strength. However, the parade has drawn mixed reactions from the Republican Party. A survey by POLITICO of 50 Hill Republicans found only seven planned to attend, with many top lawmakers choosing to skip the event. Lawmakers in the Republican leadership, including the chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, are absent, opting instead to attend a defense industry conference in Paris. Critics argue that the parade’s high cost—estimated between $25 million and $40 million—raises questions about the administration’s priorities, especially amid ongoing economic challenges. Democratic lawmakers, such as Rep. Don Beyer, have condemned the event, calling it a wasteful display that diverts resources from critical needs like Social Security and regional transportation. As the Army prepares for the parade, which will feature over 6,600 troops and historic military equipment, tensions over the event’s purpose and cost persist.
President Donald Trump is set to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary and his own 79th birthday with a lavish military parade in Washington, a multimillion-dollar event designed to showcase the nation’s military strength. However, the parade has drawn mixed reactions from the Republican Party. A survey by POLITICO of 50 Hill Republicans found only seven planned to attend, with many top lawmakers choosing to skip the event.
Lawmakers in the Republican leadership, including the chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, are absent, opting instead to attend a defense industry conference in Paris. Critics argue that the parade’s high cost—estimated between $25 million and $40 million—raises questions about the administration’s priorities, especially amid ongoing economic challenges. Democratic lawmakers, such as Rep. Don Beyer, have condemned the event, calling it a wasteful display that diverts resources from critical needs like Social Security and regional transportation.
As the Army prepares for the parade, which will feature over 6,600 troops and historic military equipment, tensions over the event’s purpose and cost persist. Despite the military pageantry, the parade remains a focal point of debate, with some Republicans defending its value as a tool for recruitment and national pride, while others question whether the spending is justified. The White House has dismissed concerns about the event’s cost, emphasizing its importance in honoring the military and celebrating Trump’s birthday. Meanwhile, protests against the parade have been planned in several cities, with critics accusing the administration of using the event to bolster Trump’s political image.