Military Parade to Honour 250th Anniversary of U.S. Army Falls on Trump’s Birthday
The White House has confirmed that on June 14, a full-scale military parade will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army—a date that coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. An Army spokesperson described the celebration as a “day-long festival” featuring:
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6,600 soldiers
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150 military vehicles
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50 aircraft
Planning is already “actively underway,” with organizers exploring ways to expand the event by adding capability demonstrations, more equipment displays, and increased community engagement.
Background: Trump’s Parade Proposal
Trump first proposed a grand Veterans Day parade in 2018, aiming to rival France’s Bastille Day spectacle after attending the Paris event in 2017. At that time, early estimates suggested a price tag of $90 million, prompting local officials to balk at the “ridiculously high” cost and the plan was shelved.
Renaming Veterans Day and VE Day
In a related announcement, Trump revealed his intention to:
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Rename Veterans Day (November 11) as “Victory Day for World War I”
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Rename VE Day (May 8) as “Victory Day for World War II”
He argued that although many U.S. allies already celebrate May 8 as Victory Day, America “did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result” in WWII and “never celebrate anything” due to a lack of leadership. He declared, “So we are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
No formal executive order has been issued, and any change to federal holidays requires Congressional approval. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified on social media, “We will always honor Veterans Day AND we should commemorate the end of WWI and WWII as VICTORY DAYS!”
Global Context of Victory Celebrations
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United Kingdom, France, Canada and other nations are marking 80 years since Germany’s surrender in Europe in May 1945.
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Russia observes May 9 as the end of its “Great Patriotic War” with massive parades—one of the country’s most significant holidays, honoring the roughly 27 million Soviet citizens who died.
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According to the U.S. National WWII Museum, about 418,500 Americans died in WWII, of which 416,000 were military personnel.
Unlike many Western nations, the U.S. did not traditionally recognize VE Day because fighting in the Pacific against Japan continued for months after the European surrender.
Evolution of U.S. War Commemorations
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Armistice Day (November 11, 1918) originally marked the end of WWI.
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After WWII and the Korean War, it was renamed Veterans Day to honor all U.S. military veterans.
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Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, specifically honors those who died in battle.
