Here's what we know about Trump's June 14 D.C. military parade
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With June 14 fast approaching, President Trump's proposed military parade is yet to be finalized, but permit applications give us a glimpse into the spectacle that's expected to cost tens of millions of dollars.
Why it matters: The event would be on the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday — achieving his long-held desire to march a parade of soldiers through the capital.
Here's what we know: The military procession would begin at 6pm at the Pentagon's north parking lot and go over the Memorial Bridge, according to a National Park Service permit application released to Axios.
- Continuing on Constitution Avenue, the Army's Golden Knights will parachute down to the Ellipse, and a flyover will take place, per the application. The parade ends at 15th Street.
- About 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and 50 helicopters are part of the plans developed by the Army, the Associated Press recently reported.
- The Washington Monument grounds will welcome crowds and have facilities for food, water, and restrooms.
The Ellipse will have a presidential review stand, bleachers, and a concert stage, the NPS application says.
- Set to begin at 8pm, the "concert will consist of 5-7 musical acts" with "well-known performers" who are "likely from the country music world," per the application.
- A fireworks display would occur at 9:45pm.
But there's about five weeks to go. Consider that it takes about four months for the presidential inauguration platform to be built at the U.S. Capitol.
- "The stage and presidential review stand will be custom built, which may require the use of cranes," says the NPS permit submitted by America250.org Inc.
- Other setup includes generators and WiFi infrastructure — "perhaps Starlink," the application says, referring to Elon Musk's internet satellite network.
The latest: The application is "considered approved," NPS spokesperson Mike Litterst told Axios in an email. But a permit has not been issued yet, pending more event details from organizers.
- The Secret Service has classified the parade as a National Special Security Event, similar to an inauguration, Litterst added.
The White House didn't return Axios' requests for comment.
Flashback: The last time troops paraded in D.C. was in 1991, when President George H.W. Bush honored Gulf War servicemembers. It was the largest military procession since World War II.
- Trump wanted to hold a parade in 2018 — based off France's Bastille Day — but high costs scuttled the plans.
A final cost estimate is unknown for this year's plan, but AP reports that officials expect it to cost tens of millions of dollars.