Trump’s Military Parade Sparks Controversy in Washington DC Amid Road Closures, Tank Damage Fears, and Political Backlash

A massive military parade organized for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary—and coinciding with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday—has stirred protests, traffic chaos, and sharp criticism over authoritarian optics and urban disruption in Washington DC.

Washington DC is witnessing a dramatic and controversial spectacle as military tanks roll down Rhode Island Avenue and police-escorted convoys cause gridlock—part of preparations for a large-scale military parade organized by President Donald Trump to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary on Saturday, June 14, which also happens to be Trump’s 79th birthday. While Trump says he’s not celebrating his birthday but rather Flag Day, many critics see the parade as a grandiose, politically charged display reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.

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Flatbed trucks carrying M1A2 Abrams tanks have already caused traffic snarls across the city, and further disruptions are expected as thousands of troops, armored vehicles, helicopters, aircraft, and even horses and mules prepare to march along the National Mall. The military parade, the first of its kind since the 1991 Gulf War victory celebration, will run for eight blocks down Constitution Avenue NW—from the Lincoln Memorial to just past the White House.

Though the parade itself will last a few hours, roads will be shut for up to four days, and flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be suspended during portions of the event. Officials fear the heavy armored vehicles will damage local infrastructure not designed to withstand their weight, potentially sticking the city with steep repair costs.

Trump, whose previous events in DC have drawn heated scrutiny—especially the January 6 rally in 2021 that preceded a violent Capitol insurrection—has once again drawn criticism for using the nation’s capital for what many see as political theater. “I think it’s time for us to celebrate a little bit. You know, we’ve had a lot of victories,” he said earlier this week.

Trump’s plans have made Washington DC the second American city to witness troop deployment under his administration this month. He recently sent federalized California National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to assist with immigration enforcement, defying state and local objections. Critics warn the moves signal Trump’s willingness to use military force for domestic political objectives.

Anticipating mass protests, Trump issued a blunt warning: “Any protesters will be met with very heavy force.”

Washington DC’s non-voting congressional delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, condemned the event as “a performative military parade in the style of authoritarian leaders” that serves no legitimate purpose. Many local officials and neighborhood representatives agree.

Jim Malec, an elected neighborhood commissioner representing Foggy Bottom, described the event as “appalling,” particularly given its $25–$45 million price tag and its location near where the city recently cleared homeless encampments. “We’re spending $45 million on a parade after kicking out the most vulnerable residents of our neighborhood,” he said.

Muriel Bowser, DC’s Democratic mayor, has remained relatively diplomatic, focusing on crowd management and event logistics. “There’s going to be a parade aspect, but don’t lose sight of the fact that a lot of people served in the army,” she said, highlighting the family-friendly appeal of aircraft and military displays. Still, she expressed concern about the tanks damaging roads: “If they’re rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds.”

An Army spokesperson, Heather J. Hagan, estimated the cost of the parade to be between $25 million and $45 million. She assured that tanks would have rubber pads and that steel plates would be laid “strategically” to protect road surfaces—but declined to confirm who would pay for any resulting damage.

Local neighborhood advisory commissions have voiced their objections in more direct terms. Capitol Hill representatives passed a resolution urging the cancellation of what they described as a militarized spectacle more common in dictatorships than democracies.

Meanwhile, Samuel Port, a former Army logistics officer who lost his job after Trump ordered the closure of USAID, dismissed any claim that the tanks wouldn’t damage city streets. “Their engines will make anyone who comes near them unpleasantly hot, and they’ll spew a lot of pollution,” he said, referencing the expected high temperature of 88°F (31°C) on parade day.

Port acknowledged the importance of honoring veterans but criticized the politicization of the event. “Trump is using this as an excuse to prop himself up for his birthday. It really demeans the soldiers, because he’s using them as a political prop,” he said.

The military parade comes amid ongoing tension between the Trump administration and Washington DC’s overwhelmingly Democratic population. Republican-led Congress has moved to block DC policies and impose federal mandates, including reversing local voting laws, police union reforms, and a $1 billion budget cut. The political and logistical chaos surrounding this parade only deepens the divide—and leaves DC’s 700,000 residents bracing for an event many didn’t ask for.