What you need to know
You can read our full analysis of events here.
Lee Greenwood serenades president
The first lady joins the president at the podium before the crowds erupt into a spontaneous chant of “happy birthday” followed by “USA, USA, USA”.
The American singer Lee Greenwood is up next on the stage. He serenades the masses with a rendition of God Bless the USA and manages to squeeze in some birthday wishes for Trump as he sings.
‘Our country will be stronger and greater than before’
“The army has forged a legacy of unmatched courage,” says Trump, adding that the nation’s soldiers have “poured out their blood by the bucketful” in numerous major wars and battles.
“America stands tall, America stands proud and America stands free,” he continues. Trump also promises that “our country will soon be stronger and greater than before”.
Trump memorialises ‘supreme sacrifice’
“Tonight you’ve made all Americans very proud,” says Trump. “Every other country celebrates their victories, it’s about time America did too. That’s what we’re doing tonight.”
He then thanks the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who have served in the US army over the past 250 years, making a “supreme sacrifice” for the nation.
Vance and Trump speak
Scores of people are now moving across Constitution Avenue to leave as a live band plays in front of the main viewing platform where President Trump is sat. It’s been a subdued affair; many of those on the parade route have been unable to hear the announcers’ broadcasts due to a lack of speakers.
JD Vance has now begun his speech. “We’re so proud of you,” he says. He wishes the president a happy birthday and also mentions that it’s his wedding anniversary. “I would get in trouble if I didn’t mention it,” he jokes.
The president is up next.
How busy is the parade?
From Katy Balls in Washington
How many people are at the military parade? The US president is known to take an interest in attendance at his events — in 2017 his team rowed with the media over how many people attended his inauguration.
Today has been billed as a big event — and there are thought to be thousands in attendance. However, there are also reports of unused seats in the area for special guests and their families. As for the area open to the public, there is plenty of green space across the mall. Concerns over the weather — with an army official telling The Times earlier this week that the event could even be postponed as a result — may have led to some thinking twice about making the trip.
Chinooks take to skies
The Chinook helicopter, the army’s heavy lift aircraft for the past 63 years, has taken to the skies above DC. Throughout its long history it has transported soldiers across Afghanistan, carried artillery batteries into perilous mountain positions in Vietnam and facilitated the 2023 evacuation of the US Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan.
Capable of reaching a speed of 195 miles per hour, it is the fastest helicopter in the US army. It can carry heavy payloads such as bulldozers, howitzers and 40-foot cargo containers.
‘Robot Dogs’ take centre stage
The final marching units are making their way on to the parade route as the event moves into its “future” era, represented by the US army’s “Robot Dog” — a four-legged, autonomous device which is being developed to fight on the battlefield and aid in military activities. These “dogs” can be fitted with AI-enabled rifles that are capable of distinguishing between friend and foe.
Earlier, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) rumbled down Constitution Avenue. A five-ton truck is used to transport the Himars’s rocket “pod”, meaning the system can be quickly moved in and out of a battle zone.
The Himars can fire a variety of munitions including the newly developed precision strike missile, which can reach up to 310 miles and has the potential to hit a moving ship.
‘Happy birthday — I love you’
From Katy Balls in Washington
While there are protests in DC and beyond today (and even a handful here at the parade) against the Trump administration, the majority of attendees are in high spirits. Many are decked out in the American flag or “Make America Great Again” hats.
As Black Hawk helicopters fly above, I’ve just bumped into a man who goes by the name of “Mr Sunshine” who is carrying a placard which reads “happy birthday — I love you”. A message for the president? “It’s his birthday today; listen — he’s a great guy.”
The president is expected to take to the stage and give an address in under an hour.
In pictures: Washington celebrates modern US army
Tanks fitted with road-friendly coating
It appears many of the tanks and heavily armoured vehicles have been fitted with rubber coating around their wheels.
There were concerns that the weight of these vehicles could cause cracks and damage to Washington’s streets.
Some $16 million of the parade’s total $45 million budget has been earmarked for road repairs, according to NBC.
Black Hawks swoop past parade
Black Hawk helicopters, which have been used by the US army for nearly 50 years, have just flown by. The four-blade, twin-engine helicopter is capable of lifting a Humvee on to the battlefield and can fly at speeds of up to 172 mph, reaching altitudes of 20,000 feet.
The helicopter, named after the Native American war leader Black Hawk, was first used during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. It featured predominantly in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993, during which two Black Helicopters were shot down. No single battle since the Vietnam War has killed as many Americans: 18 soldiers died and 73 were wounded.
Corporate sponsors include crypto exchange
Some 22 companies are sponsoring today’s parade, including Coinbase, an American cryptocurrency exchange, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
President Trump has links to both: he has developed his own personal cryptocurrency, known as $TRUMP, and has regularly attended UFC events since returning to office.
British-made howitzer gets a showing
The much-vaunted “special relationship” between Britain and the US gets an inadvertent nod as a M777 howitzer is paraded down Constitution Avenue. This particular artillery is manufactured by BAE Systems, a British aerospace and defence company, though the final integration and testing of the weapon takes place at the firm’s facility in Mississippi.
The M777 can fire its 105-pound, 155mm shells up to 24 miles. The US army has used it since 2005; more than 120 have been provided to Ukraine for its war against Russia, too.
Strykers mark global war on terror
Strykers are taking centre stage as the parade moves into its “Global War on Terror” era. These eight-wheeled armoured vehicles have several purposes: they can be used for transporting infantry, mortars or medical evacuees.
The first Stryker brigades were deployed to Iraq in 2003, two years after President George Bush launched America’s war in the Middle East following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Strykers were also used in Afghanistan and Syria.
In January 2023, a military aid package sent to Ukraine included Strykers, the first time the vehicles had been deployed to the former Soviet nation.
Tanks rumble down Constitution Avenue
A column of M1 Abrams tanks is moving slowly down Constitution Avenue. The tank, which was developed in the 1980s, first saw combat in the Gulf War in 1991. It was known for its reliability, lethality and mobility; not a single Abrams tank was lost in the conflict.
The tank, which weighs 68 tonnes and has a crew of four, continues to be used by the army today. More recently, the Abrams tank has been sent to Ukraine where they are reported to have served well against Russian attacks.
Sparse crowds undercut turnout hopes
Organisers said they were expecting “hundreds of thousands” to attend today’s parade but early photos suggest the turnout may not be quite as high as hoped.
A crowd gathered in front of the Washington Monument looks especially sparse, with the poor weather likely to have kept many people at home.
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, has meanwhile just been captured on TV discreetly yawning. Trump, however, is back on his feet to salute troops dressed in uniform from the Gulf War.
Historical parade reaches Vietnam War
The parade has moved into its Vietnam War section, led by contemporary troops from the 1st Cavalry Division. The unit fought in 13 named campaigns during the conflict. Several aircraft used in the war, including the Cobra helicopter, fly above.
The US army in Vietnam reached its peak strength of 364,200 soldiers in January 1969. By 1973 it had fully withdrawn from the nation after its failure to defeat the Soviet-backed North Vietnamese forces. The war is considered one of the US army’s most humiliating military losses.
Cheers for president amid drizzly display
From Katy Balls in Washington
Loud cheers for President Trump from the crowd in DC as he takes to the stage on his 79th birthday. Officially, however, this is about the armed forces’s 250th birthday and that’s why the majority of attendees I have spoken to so far say they are here first and foremost.
As the parade gets under way, the crowds are applauding the soldiers — of whom many are dressed in costumes from the First World War to the Civil War to mark the United States’s major conflicts. Now the tanks have started to roll in — leading to cries of “oh my god” from enthusiastic attendees. Light rain has started to fall but so far it is not dampening spirits.
Tanks rolled out for Second World War segment
The Second World War segment of the parade is now beginning its march down the National Mall. It includes the iconic Ford Jeep, which was used for nearly every military activity, and the M4 Sherman tank, renowned for its reliability on the battlefield. The M4 remained in American service from 1942 to 1957 and continued to serve with US allies into the 1970s.
In mobilising for the Second World War, the US army expanded in size from 174,000 in 1939 to nearly 11 million by the war’s end.
B25 bombers, which served in all theatres of the war, fly above as President Trump gets to his feet to salute a unit of troops passing in front of him.
Civil and First World War re-enactments follow
Troops on horseback, representing the Civil War era, are up next. The unit is followed by a white wagon. This segment of the parade is made up of soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division, which was established in 1917 and first served during World War One.
Golden Knights take to the skies
The US Army Parachute Team, known as the Golden Knights, have taken to the skies above the parade. Smoke billows out from behind them as they twist and turn against a backdrop of grey clouds.
The camera pans to President Trump, who is smiling and clapping. Today’s event realises one of the president’s long-standing ambitions to stage a military parade.
Revolutionary War memorial takes stage
A marching band is leading the procession made up of trombones, trumpets and percussion drums.
Behind them are troops from the 3rd Infantry Regiment dressed in period uniforms from the Revolutionary War and armed with muskets used by soldiers in the late 18th century. Most soldiers carried smoothbore muskets, not rifles, during the conflict. The rifle was more accurate, but took longer to load and could not mount a bayonet.
Originally established in 1784, the 3rd Infantry Regiment is the army’s oldest infantry unit. Its troops went on to serve in several US conflicts, including the Mexican War and World War Two.
Historical marches begin
The parade has begun 30 minutes ahead of schedule due to the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms. The umbrellas are up as light rain starts to fall.
With the national anthem now over, we’re moving into the first era-themed “package” of the parade: the Revolutionary War.
Parade kicks off
The parade is officially under way as members of the US army cross Arlington Memorial Bridge and begin to march down Constitution Avenue, which runs in between the White House and the Washington Monument.
The crowd cheers and a band plays while several senior members of the army and the cabinet move into their place on a central viewing platform.
President Trump has now arrived.
Trump en route to celebration
President Trump is en route from the White House to the parade, which will be beginning shortly. He’s joined by the first lady Melania Trump. The president, who turns 79 today, is also due to give a speech around 8.30pm.
Maga enthusiasts and critics gather in Washington
From Katy Balls in Washington DC
It’s one hour to go until the festivities get under way but the crowd is already gathering here in the mall in Washington DC. While the attendees so far are mostly a mix of military veterans and supporters plus Make America Great Again enthusiasts, some dissenting voices have made it in.
Tim Pohle, 60, is here as a peaceful protester — with a placard that reads “Dystopia — we’re not going to have a country anymore”. He says he supports the military but is unhappy with the idea of a military parade: “I just don’t feel it is an American thing to do. It’s the kind of thing you would see in Soviet Russia or North Korea.”
While Pohle says most attendees have been civil, one man interrupts to shout “Trump is my king” in our direction.
Minnesota shooting suspect ‘trying to flee’
Minnesota authorities say they believe the man suspected of shooting two Democratic state politicians, one of them fatally, is trying to flee the area.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities are looking for 57-year-old Vance Boelter and that he had not yet been caught.
Authorities displayed a photo of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat that was taken in Minneapolis on Saturday and asked the public to report sightings.
Evans said investigators have obtained video as well. Speaking at a press conference, he did not give details on a possible motive.
Parade will rival other national traditions
Military parades are a rare sight in the US. Since the end of World War Two, the nation has staged only one major military parade: the National Victory Celebration, held in 1991 after America’s successful interventions in the Gulf War.
However, military displays are far more common elsewhere. In Britain, Trooping the Colour is held every year to celebrate the birthday of the monarch. It involves gun salutes, cavalry processions and music.
Russia’s Victory Day parade, which marks the Soviet Union’s victory over the Nazis, is also held every year. In last month’s parade, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles rolled through Red Square, in Moscow, while rocket launchers and flamethrower systems used in Ukraine were also on display.
France marks Bastille Day, the national day of France, with a military parade that President Trump described as “one of the greatest parades I’ve ever seen”. North Korea holds several military parades each to celebrate various holidays.
Protesters clash with police
While today’s protests have remained largely peaceful, there have been some reports of confrontations between demonstrators and police.
In one heavily Hispanic neighbourhood of northern Atlanta, tear gas was thrown into a crowd of protesters who were headed toward a highway.
A chemical irritant has also been sprayed at demonstrators attempting to move past a line of officers with bikes in Charlotte, North Carolina. It appears that the confrontation took place as several hundred people remained in the area after the the city’s official rally ended at 1pm.
What is the significance of the numbers 86 47?
Protesters at President Trump’s parade marking 250 years of the American military held placards displaying the numbers “86 47” on Saturday, a symbol of resistance that has been associated with violence.
The significance of the numbers was highlighted in May when James Comey, the director of the FBI between 2013 and 2017, was put under investigation after posting an image to Instagram of sea shells on a beach spelling out the four digits.
The protests on Saturday were organised by “No Kings”, a national movement made up of Americans who oppose the Trump administration.
‘Credible threats’ against Texan political figures
Authorities in Texas have warned of “credible threats” made against legislators planning to attend protests in Austin.
An alert was sent out by the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) on Saturday afternoon — just hours after two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were shot in their homes.
The Texan DPS said it was working with “all local, state and federal law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our citizens and state property, as well as to protect individuals exercising their constitutional rights to assemble and free speech”.
Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, said: “I urge everyone to take appropriate precautions and heed the warning of Texas DPS until the threat is no longer active.”
Protests have been planned across several cities in Texas, a staunchly Republican state.
Minnesota reels from political assassinations
Protests in Minnesota have been cancelled after a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband were assassinated on Saturday in an attack described by officials as politically motivated.
Police said they are searching for Vance Boelter, 57, after Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot dead in their homes. Boelter is also suspected of shooting Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. The couple survived and have since undergone surgery.
It’s believed Boelter gained access to the politicians’ homes by impersonating a police officer.
“Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today’s planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution,” State Patrol posted on social media on Saturday morning.
Trump condemns ‘people that hate our country’
President Trump has threatened a strong response to the “No Kings” protests being held across the US today.
Tens of thousands have already taken to the streets of New York, with protests also under way in Washington and Los Angeles, where unrest has rocked the city’s Downtown district since last weekend. Demonstrators are out in full force in Springfield, Ohio, Seattle, Nashville and Miami.
Earlier this week, Trump warned: “People that hate our country … they will be met with very heavy force.”
Despite the name of the “No King” protests, which imply Trump is behaving like an aspiring autocrat, the president said earlier this week: “I don’t feel like a king … I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
