President Donald Trump’s $45 million military parade is facing potential disruption due to predicted rain, as the National Weather Service has forecast a 60 percent chance of precipitation after 2 p.m. on Saturday, coinciding with the event.
According to the latest weather updates, Saturday evening could see showers and possible thunderstorms. The forecast reads, “Showers likely before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.” This inclement weather could considerably impact Trump’s extravagant birthday celebration, which aims to honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army.
The Army has announced that the parade is scheduled to commence at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at approximately 7:30 p.m., just ahead of the expected thunderstorms. If conditions worsen, certain features of the event, including a parachute drop by the Army’s Golden Knights and the concluding fireworks display, may be canceled.
The Golden Knights are slated to land at the Ellipse following the parade, where they will present Trump with a U.S. flag. However, they had to cancel a parachute jump at a prior community celebration at the Redstone Arsenal Army base in Alabama due to rain just days earlier.
Special Agent Matt McCool of the Secret Service’s Washington field office advised the public at a recent news conference to leave pets and emotional support animals at home for safety reasons, although service animals will be allowed. Preparations are being made for what the Secret Service anticipates to be a massive turnout, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend. Over 18 miles of fencing are being erected throughout Washington D.C. to accommodate the event.
Despite the anticipated large audience, adverse weather could hinder public transportation and affect attendance. The parade will showcase approximately 9,000 troops, over 100 military vehicles, and 50 aircraft, including Black Hawk helicopters and WWII-era B-52 bombers.
“It’s gonna be an amazing day. We’ll have tanks, we’ll have planes, we’ll have all sorts of things. I think it’s gonna be great,” Trump stated in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Notably, the estimated $45 million cost of the celebration does not include an additional projected $16 million for repairing potential damage caused by military tanks during the parade. D.C. Mayor Muriel Browser remarked in April that the presence of military tanks on city streets would not be beneficial, suggesting that if they are used, significant funds should be allocated for road repairs. Approximately 130 military tanks are expected to be part of Saturday’s event.
Trump previously sought to hold a grand military parade during his first term after being inspired by France’s Bastille Day celebrations in 2017. After a proposed cost of $92 million led to the cancellation of that event, this upcoming parade serves as his attempt to realize that vision.