Donald Trump may receive a personal gift from the U.S. Army during a major military parade next month that coincides with his birthday.
According to The New York Times, Army officials have discussed plans for the Golden Knights—the Army’s elite parachute team—to land in Washington, D.C., on June 14 and present Trump with an American flag. The date marks both the former president’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Organizers insist the event is not a celebration of Trump. Army officials told The Times that there are no plans to sing “Happy Birthday” to him during the parade. This is part of an effort to separate the military tribute from any political overtones.
Despite these assurances, some critics remain skeptical. The Army did not hold a parade for its 200th anniversary and had no known plans for this one until Trump entered office. The last major military parade in Washington occurred in 1991, after the Gulf War.
Details of the June parade suggest a large-scale show of military power. Plans include 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker combat vehicles, about 6,700 troops on foot, 50 helicopters, 34 horses, two mules, and one dog. The procession is expected to pass a viewing stand on Constitution Avenue near the White House, where Trump may receive the flag.
Trump previously included the Golden Knights in the 2020 “Salute to America” Fourth of July celebration, which featured military flyovers and patriotic performances.
The upcoming event is estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million. That figure does not include the cost of cleaning up afterward or repairing roads damaged by heavy military equipment.
“It’s a lot of money,” Army spokesperson Steve Warren said. “But I think that amount is dwarfed by 250 years of service and sacrifice by America’s Army.”
The White House declined to provide details about the parade to The Daily Beast, but defended the scale of the event.
“There is no event grand enough to adequately capture our gratitude for the millions of heroes who laid down their lives defending our freedom,” said Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. “But this parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of all who have worn the uniform.”
Kelly said funding for the parade will come from both the Department of the Army and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
Still, the event has sparked debate over its timing, cost, and political implications—especially considering previous Trump-era efforts to cut federal spending, including deep reductions at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Risa Brooks, a political science professor at Marquette University, questioned whether the parade could be seen as a partisan display of support for Trump—something the Pentagon has historically tried to avoid.
