Almost a decade after he first proposed it, Donald Trump will see a military parade in the streets of Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
The parade, which is officially called the Army Birthday Parade and is meant to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, comes with a price tag of somewhere between $25 million and $45 million, will involve hundreds of Army vehicles, thousands of soldiers and dozens of warplanes, and will suspend passenger traffic at Reagan National Airport. It also happens to occur on Trump’s 79th birthday.
Trump, in his first term, pushed for a military parade, with soldiers marching through Washington and tanks rolling down the city streets, in 2018, following his attendance of Bastille Day in Paris. He told aides on Air Force One on the trip home that he wanted to create a similar show of military force in the U.S.
The idea was scuttled after military leaders calculated the parade would cost $92 million—and Washington city officials expressed concern about the impact of the parade on local roads and the $21 million it would cost for public safety.
While there’s plenty of controversy about this year’s parade, there’s also curiosity about it. Here’s all you need to know about the parade and how to watch it.
What time does the military parade start?
While the celebration of the Army’s birthday begins at 9:30 a.m. ET in Washington, the parade itself is scheduled to being at 6:30 p.m. ET.
How long will the military parade last?
The parade is scheduled to last about one hour and will be followed by a concert, then a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. ET.
Will the military parade be aired on television?
So far, no major networks have announced plans to throw out their scheduled programming and air the parade. Same goes for any of the 24-hour new channels, though it’s likely all will air at least some of the parade, though the ‘No Kings’ protests that will be taking place across the country are likely to get more attention from many networks, especially with Trump’s recent deployment of the National Guard and Marines in California to quell protests.
C-SPAN will also air the parade, with commercial free coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET. CNN has scheduled coverage as well. And NewsNation will cover the events all day, with a four-hour block of parade coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET.
Can I stream the military parade?
Yes. The parade will be livestreamed by a number of outlets, from local D.C. stations (such as WUSA9) to all U.S. Army social-media platforms.
Don’t have a cable subscription? You can watch news channels on several online streaming services:
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service carries a $8 or $14 monthly charge—and the service has recently done away with its free trial. (An annual plan starts at $80.)
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $27 per month for no ads on Hulu and Disney+).
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $83 per month ($96 with no ads).
Max
The once and future HBO Max doesn’t have a free trial, unfortunately. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month.
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service lasts three days. Afterward, it will cost you $83 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $61 per month. The seven-day free trial is no longer offered.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
Soon to be part of the Disney family, this cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $85 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
What’s the military parade route?
The parade will take place in Washington, D.C. along Constitution Avenue NW. It starts on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street and ends at 15th Street near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The parade will cross in front of Trump’s viewing stand on Constitution Avenue south of the White House.
When is the last time the U.S. had a military parade?
The last time the U.S. had a military parade was 1991, following the end of the Gulf War. That celebration, which saw armored vehicles and missile systems in the streets of Washington, D.C. and stealth fighters overhead, was the biggest military celebration since the end of World War II.
What can I expect from the Army Birthday Parade?
The 2025 processional will feature 50 aircraft, 34 horses, two mules, one dog, and 6,600 soldiers from every Army division, as well as 28 M1 Abrams battle tanks.
