President Donald Trump’s historic military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C., could be disrupted.
The $25-45 million display of American military might may be canceled due to dangerous lightning forecasts that threaten public safety.
President Trump has long envisioned a grand military parade for America, inspired by France’s Bastille Day celebration he witnessed in 2017.
The June 14 event would fulfill his vision of proudly displaying American military strength like many other nations routinely showcase.
Although many other countries celebrate the end of World War I, “The only one that doesn’t celebrate is the USA and we’re the ones that won the war,” President Trump remarked.
“Without us, you’d all be speaking German right now. Maybe a little Japanese thrown in,” he added.
The parade is planned to be a magnificent display of American military might, including 28 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley fighting vehicles, and 28 Stryker vehicles transported from Texas.
In total, 6,600 Army troops will participate alongside vintage military vehicles in the hour-long celebration scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
While rain alone would not dampen the event, lightning presents a serious safety concern for both participants and spectators.
Army spokesman Steve Warren made it clear that weather would be the deciding factor: “Rain won’t stop us, the tanks don’t melt, but if there’s lightning then that puts the crowd at risk.”
“It’s June in Washington DC. We get thunderstorms. You could delay it, you could look at it and say this is just passing through. Or say, hey, this is a storm which gets bigger for a while,” Warren added.
This is not the first time weather has challenged President Trump’s events, as his inauguration day parade also faced rain.
The final decision on whether to proceed, delay, or cancel will fall to General Randy George, the Army’s Chief of Staff, in consultation with the President.
Critics, including some Republicans, have opposed the parade, comparing it to military displays in authoritarian regimes.
A survey found 60% of Americans believe the parade is not a good use of government funds, especially considering that repairing streets afterward could cost up to an additional $16 million.
Despite the criticism, President Trump has consistently defended the parade’s cost, emphasizing the value of showcasing America’s military strength to both allies and adversaries.
Meanwhile, activists are planning “No Kings” protests to coincide with the parade.
Weather experts have dismissed speculation about using cloud-seeding techniques to control the weather for the event.
Meteorological expert Jeffrey French stated, “I have seen the same reports that have come out of foreign governments. It’s not possible. There is no scientific evidence that we can do that.”
As the parade date approaches, Americans remain hopeful that weather conditions will allow this celebration of American military excellence to proceed as planned.
