Washington: US President Donald Trump delivered patriotic remarks at a historic military parade in Washington on Saturday evening, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army, which also coincided with Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.

The event was part of his broader “Task Force 250” initiative, established by executive order in January to coordinate celebrations leading up to America’s 250th Anniversary of Independence in 2026.


The parade stretched down Constitution Avenue, beginning near the Lincoln Memorial and concluding near the Washington Monument at about 9:30 pm. During the parade on Constitution Avenue, military displays, including flyovers, WWII Jeeps, Vietnam-era tanks, and the Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team, etc, were there. The crowd gathered cheered "USA" and sang "Happy Birthday" to Trump.
Amid the celebration, the event unfolded as protests and riots continued in Los Angeles over the Trump administration’s efforts to deport millions of illegal immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration. The unrest was further intensified by escalating international tensions following Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iran Thursday evening.


In his speech, Trump paid tribute to soldiers and highlighted the Army's legacy. He called the Army's most famous leader, Gen. George Washington, an "indomitable commander" and laid out many of the major American victories from the Revolution onward: Gettysburg, Guadalcanal, Shiloh, San Juan Hill, the Argonne trenches and the Afghan mountainsides.
"Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time America did too — that's what we're doing tonight. As we celebrate tonight, we also think of the hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation and selflessly laid down their lives in every war, from the revolution to the war on terror, to the Gold Star families with us today."- he said.
After the speech, Trump spent the rest of the parade seated, or often standing and saluting the troops, flanked by first lady Melania Trump and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.