Plans for a grand military parade in Washington to celebrate President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army face uncertainty as weather forecasts predict thunderstorms over the capital on Saturday.
The parade, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., was to be the centerpiece of a day-long series of festivities featuring 6,600 troops, dozens of armored vehicles, and even a live message from an astronaut in space. However, a slow-moving weather front advancing from the north has raised concerns among officials about the safety of the crowd, particularly due to the risk of lightning.
“Rain won’t stop us, the tanks don’t melt,” said Army spokesperson Steve Warren. “But if there’s lightning, then that puts the crowd at risk… they will disperse the crowd and even cancel or postpone the parade. It will depend on the president, too, when he’s available.”
The final decision will rest with the Army’s chief of staff, guided by operations teams monitoring weather and public safety conditions.
President Trump has been a long-time advocate for a military parade in the capital, inspired by his 2017 visit to France’s Bastille Day celebration with President Emmanuel Macron. He has promised Saturday’s event will be an “unforgettable celebration, one like you’ve never seen before.”
However, the event also faces political headwinds. A protest movement calling itself “No Kings” has organized over 1,800 demonstrations nationwide for Saturday. The group and other critics have condemned Trump’s handling of immigration enforcement and his militarized response to recent protests in Los Angeles.
Trump responded earlier this week by warning that protesters at the parade would “be met with very big force.”
The cost of the parade, estimated between $25 million and $45 million, has drawn criticism from opponents. Trump dismissed concerns over the expense, calling it “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”
As of Thursday, officials remain in a holding pattern. “It’s June in Washington, D.C.,” Warren said. “We get thunderstorms. You could delay it, you could look at it and say this is just passing through. Or say, hey, this is a storm which gets bigger for a while.”
