President Donald Trump got the birthday present he had been hoping for – good weather.
Despite several drops of rain falling as he and first lady Melania Trump arrived at Saturday’s 250th anniversary for the U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.’s skies stayed clear enough for flyovers, parachute jumps and a grand fireworks display.
The president spoke for an uncharacteristically short eight minutes, but in doing so delivered a stern warning to America’s enemies.
‘There is no earthly force more powerful than the brave heart of the U.S. military or an Army Ranger paratrooper or Green Beret,’ he told the crowd, sprawled far out onto the National Mall surrounding the Washington Monument.
There were fears ahead of Saturday’s event, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday, that the evening parade would have to be postponed or scrapped if there was lightning in the area.
The only lightning and thunder at the event was during country crooner Warren Zeiders’ performance and when AC/DC’s Thunderstruck played.
Ahead of the event there were also worries about protests.
While some of the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations around the country turned chaotic – including an incident with a man driving into a crowd – on the Mall there were only a smattering of critics – some quietly holding signs, others more loudly heckling the president’s MAGA fans.
President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) attended Saturday’s 250th anniversary parade for the U.S. Army, which coincides with the president’s 79th birthday
Troops march as part of the 250th anniversary parade for the U.S. Army, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday
While demonstrations at the actual parade were few and far between, some ‘No Kings’ protests, including this one in Los Angeles turned chaotic with tear gas being dispersed
The president and first lady arrived at a viewing box where the Ellipse meets Constitution Avenue, with Melania sporting a cream pinstripe suit for the occasion.
After the Star-Spangled banner, when there was a break in the programming, members of the crowd loudly broked out into ‘Happy Birthday’ for Trump.
Trump has denied that the military parade is in his honor – though he’s wanted to hold a Bastille Day-like parade since visting France in the opening months of his first term in 2017.
Directly before the president’s entrance, Vice President J.D. Vance and Usha Vance arrived with their kids, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as other dignitaries waited onstage.
While June 14 marked Trump’s birthday, the Army’s birthday and Flag Day, Vance admitted to the crowd it was a special occasion for his family too.
‘First of all, June the 14th is, of course, the birthday of the Army. It is, of course, the birthday of the president United States. And Happy Birthday, Mr. President,’ Vance said.
‘But I would get in trouble if I didn’t mention that it’s also my wedding anniversary. And so to my lovely wife I love you, honey. Happy anniversary, and thank you for everything you do for our country,’ the VP added.
Trump’s family members were also on hand – Donald Trump Jr., with girlfriend Bettina Anderson, Eric Trump with wife Lara, as well as Tiffany Trump – who gave birth last month to her first child.
President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) listen to the national anthem being played Saturday evening at the start of the 250th anniversary parade for the Army. First son Eric (center top) and his wife Lara Trump (right) can be seen behind the first couple
Donald Trump Jr. (left) walks into the viewing box with his girlfriend Bettina Anderson (right) ahead of Saturday’s military parade
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sat second row wearing a large pair of reflective sunglasses. Dana White (first row, right), the Trump pal and Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO, scored a prime seat to the parade
Tiffany Trump (right) departs the White House Saturday night alongside her husband Michael Boulos (right). The couple’s first child was born last month
VIP guests were able to get a closer look at the parade, which went down Constitution Avenue, while those in general admission were sprawled out on the National Mall – able to see the flyovers and later, the fireworks display
A US Army C-47 Skytrain and P-51 fly over the National Mall Saturday during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington. The predicted thunderstorms held off allowing the flyovers to take place
A member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights makes their landing behind the viewing stand on the Ellipse during the Army’s 250th birthday parade. Other flyovers took place over the Washington Monument
Dana White, the Trump pal and Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO, scored a prime seat to the parade.
Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff, sat in the second row wearing a large pair of reflective sunglasses.
The parade showcased the history of the Army, with the earliest period uniforms going first.
That means the 1st Cavalry Division – including its mascot Doc Holliday, a two year old blue heeler – was near the beginning of the pack.
The flyovers started during the World War II era, as Jeeps rolled down Constitution Avenue as well as M4 Sherman tanks.
M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Stryker vehicles later rolled down the parade route.
Parachutists from the Golden Knights jumped onto the Ellipse, while more modern aircraft including Chinook helicopters flew over the Washington Monument in a group.
While the president is used to packed crowds for his rallies, the attendance for Saturday’s parade wasn’t overwhelming.
One of the expected highlights of the parade, Private Doc Holliday, the blue heeler mascot of the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment gets a ride down Constitution Avenue on Saturday
Members of the U.S. Army drive a Paladin self propelled howitzer, M1 Abrams battle tank and Joint Tactical Vehicles into Washington, D.C. Saturday to participate in the military parade
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump watch as a World War II era M4 Sherman tank drives past the viewing stand during Saturday’s parade
A batch of Chinook helicopters fly over the National Mall during Saturday’s 250th Army anniversary parade
Spectators on the National Mall watch the fireworks display that concluded a day’s worth of events Saturday to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary
Attendees had plenty of space on the National Mall to spread out.
The VIP bleachers located across from the press section were barely full.
Lines did stretch dozens of people deep for the food trucks that had been allowed on the National Mall.
There were handfuls of protesters, but most sat quietly while holding their signs.
One demonstrator, 72-year-old Mike from Washington, D.C., who declined to give his last name, held up a sign that read: ‘Celebrate and respect our brave military personnel. Condemn and reject our cowardly draft-dodging authoritarian president.’
His female companion, who declined to be identified, held up a sign that read ‘Freedom not Fascism.’
Ahead of the fireworks a protester yelled out ‘Trump is a traitor.’
Those surrounding the individual fired back with a ‘USA’ chant.
First lady Melania Trump (left) and President Donald Trump (right) watch the fireworks display at the conclusion of Saturday’s 250th Army anniversary parade
A soldier makes a ‘heart hands’ gesture from inside a tank during Saturday’s 250th anniversary parade for the U.S. Army
A so-called ‘robot dog’ makes its way down Constitution Avenue near the conclusion of the parade marking the Army’s 250th birthday. A number of spectators commented that they found the androids scary
Similar to Trump’s former campaign rallies, reports emerged from attendees of a two tiered system of treatment.
As VIPs filled in to a section with plenty of available seating, lines around the block were made up of general admission attendees, many of who were not permitted to entry the parade space as check point after check point shut down.
During the final segment of the parade, which showcased the future of military technologies, the ARL Robot Dogs took center stage.
Both child and adult attendees of the parade decried the dogs as ‘scary’, while X user @funkygalonline wrote ‘Black mirror changed me forever on these. Not a fan.’
The evening ended with a grand fireworks display over the National Mall, which was timed to a number of patriotic songs.
