Trump says weather won't stop dazzling festivities on Army's 250th: ‘Rainy day parade brings good luck'

Stormy weather won't rain on this parade.
President Trump affirmed Saturday that the Army's 250th anniversary parade will carry on in the streets of Washington, DC, despite forecasted flash floods, gusts of wind and thunderstorms in the nation's capital.
'Our great military parade is on, rain or shine. Remember, a rainy day parade brings good luck. I'll see you all in DC,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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'This is a big day for America!' he added.
Trump has long set his sights on a blowout military parade, marveling at such spectacles in other countries. He's also previously butted heads with DC officials over his hope for tanks to roll down the streets of the nation's capital.
This year's parade to celebrate the anniversary of the Army's founding on June 14, 1775 — which came just over a year before the Declaration of Independence — is set to feature an array of military hardware such as howitzers and other Army vehicles.
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5 The Army is set to host the first major military parade in Washington, DC in about 34 years.
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5 Scores of Trump supporters have converged on Washington, DC, to participate in the Army's birthday festivities.
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Trump will get his longstanding wish with 128 tanks after the Army agreed to put one-inch-thick metal plates along parts of the route, situate the vehicles with rubber on their treads, and set aside funding for possible repairs.
Other military hardware, such as Black Hawk helicopters and Apaches, will be on display during the grand parade.
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The procession will begin around 6:30 p.m. and start on 23rd Street NW near the Lincoln Memorial and end just past the Washington Memorial and the White House at 15th Street NW. It is expected to be finished by around 9:30 p.m.
Over 6,600 soldiers donning different Army uniforms are expected to march in the birthday parade, which will feature a flyover with various aircraft, a cacophony of musical performances and an Army Golden Knights parachute jump.
Saturday also happens to be Trump's 79th birthday and Flag Day, marking the anniversary of the Stars and Stripes becoming the official US flag on June 14, 1777.
5 There is an assortment of military hardware and festivities taking place at the National Mall before the parade.
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The president is expected to deliver remarks during the Army parade. Beforehand, there will be a series of events held on the National Mall to celebrate the Army.
During the peak of the parade, the Federal Aviation Administration plans to halt flights into Reagan National Airport, which is just over the Potomac River in Virginia.
The grand military parade is expected to feature a telling of the Army's history from the colonial era, beginning with the Battle of Lexington at the start of the Revolutionary War through the modern day.
Processions will feature troops dressed in uniforms tethered to each major time period in the Army's two and a half century history.
Military equipment used during those conflicts will also be featured as the Army tells its story. This includes iconic weaponry such as a World War I-era Renault tank and Gulf War-era M1A2 Abrams tanks.
Army organizers are planning to end the parade with an enlistment and reenlistment ceremony, the Golden Knights parachute display and fireworks.
5 President Trump will deliver remarks at the parade before jetting off to Canada for the G7.
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5 President Trump has long wanted a blockbuster military parade.
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Officials have estimated that the parade will cost between $25 to $45 million, not including cleanup, police, and infrastructure damage.
Meanwhile, a kaleidoscope of leftist groups is organizing some 2,000 'No King' protests across the country to mark a 'day of defiance' against Trump, who they rage is engaging in authoritarian tendencies with a blockbuster parade to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday.
This is the first military parade in DC in 34 years since the end of the first Gulf War.

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35 minutes ago

• Los Angeles Times

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Politico

40 minutes ago

• Politico

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New York Post

41 minutes ago

• New York Post

Read President Trump's speech after US strikes on Iran

Thank you very much. A short time ago, the US military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. Advertisement 4 President Trump speaking in the White House after announcing his that the US has bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 21, 2025. REUTERS For 40 years, Iran has been saying 'death to America, death to Israel.' They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over a thousand people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate. In particular, so many were killed by their general, Qassem Soleimani. Advertisement I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue. I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team. Like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades. Hopefully, we'll no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that's so. I so want to congratulate the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Dan 'Razin ' Caine, spectacular general and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack. 4 The United States bombed three suspected nuclear sites in Iran. Tam Nguyen / / NYPost Design Advertisement 4 Trump declared that Iran's facilities have been 'completely and totally obliterated' after the US strike. CNN With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. 4 The New York Post's front page for Sunday, June 22, 2025. Advertisement There is no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago. Tomorrow, General Caine [and] Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8 a.m. at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody. And in particular God, I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.