Why Trump’s military ‘birthday’ parade is so controversial

For the first time in more than 30 years, tanks will roll through the capital of the United States.

The 250th anniversary of the United States Army could see hundreds of thousands descend on Washington DC to watch as 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rumble along the streets.

But, like almost everything Donald Trump is involved in, it has not come without controversy or criticism.

It wasn’t originally planned as a birthday celebration – the event had been in the works since before Mr Trump was elected – but earlier this year the president announced his intention to add a massive military parade to the event, which would coincide with his own 79th birthday.

Speaking earlier this week, Mr Trump said it is going to be a “big day”, adding: “We want to show off a little bit.”

Officials have estimated around 200,000 people could turn out, including protesters, plus 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft.

More than 1,500 protests against the Trump administration, organised under the slogan ‘No Kings’, have also been planned across the US, but the group has said it will not be holding events in Washington DC, in part to avoid a direct confrontation.

It comes as the president warned that any protesters who rain on his military parade “will be met with very big force”.

Does the US typically hold military parades?

Unlike other countries, military parades in the US are fairly rare, but Mr Trump has made no secret of his desire for one.

The last time such a major display took place in the US it was in 1991, when tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s army from Kuwait.

During Mr Trump’s first administration, he ordered the Pentagon to look into holding a display after a visit to France in 2017.

He was seemingly inspired after witnessing the country’s Bastille Day parade, and attempted to plan a Veteran’s Day parade for 2018. However, this was cancelled due to “ridiculously high” cost estimates.

Mr Trump ultimately settled for a display of tanks and other armoured vehicles during a fourth of July celebration, named Salute to America, two years later.

What is happening on the day?

Saturday will start with a wreath-laying ceremony in the morning at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by an army birthday festival on the National Mall in DC. The festival will include equipment displays and military demonstrations.

The day will conclude with a military parade throughout the city, overseen by the president.

After the parade, the US Army Golden Knights team will parachute in and present the president with a flag.

How much will it cost?

All the celebrations will cost the US Army between $25m (£18.51m) and $45m (£33.33m), officials told Reuters.

These estimates include costs that will be born by the city of Washington, including litter clean up. The event will involve 18 miles of fencing and 175 metal detectors being installed in the capital.

The military has also begun taking steps to protect the streets from damage caused by heavy tanks, including laying down metal plates in some areas.

The Army said it will pay for any unexpected repairs if needed and has set aside several million dollars in case of damage.

Why is it controversial?

President Trump’s critics have called the parade an authoritarian display of power, that is particularly wasteful as his administration seeks to slash federal spending.

The cost of the Army’s celebration is several million dollars more than it would have been without a parade, officials said.

Among the critics is California governor Gavin Newsom, who has been trading barbs with Mr Trump since the outbreak of riots in LA.

“And we all know, this Saturday, he’s ordering our American heroes – the United States military – forcing them to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday, just as other failed dictators have done in the past,” he said.

“This is his ego and making everything about ‘him’,” Senator Jack Reed, the top democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has also said.

But other officials have pointed out plans for the Army’s 250th birthday began before Mr Trump won the presidential election, and it is not officially an event to mark his birthday – the dates just happen to be the same.

How will it compare to military parades around the world?

One of the criticisms of the parade is that it is a show of military might more often seen in authoritarian countries, such as North Korea, Russia, Iran and China.

This is because tanks in the streets are symbolically associated with these regimes, where they are designed to inspire nationalism and fear, while also promoting obedience – they often take place under the watchful eye of their country’s leader.

Russia holds its annual Victory Day parade on 9 May to commemorate the country’s Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. In recent years, it has been used to protect military strength during the Ukraine war.

China holds a National Day parade on 1 October every 10 years, or on key anniversaries, to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.

In Iran, an Army Day Parade takes place in April, a month after the country’s Revolution Day celebrations.

North Korea holds parades on key dates like Kim Il-sung’s birthday, or the ruling party’s foundation day. Taking place in the country’s capital of Pyongyang, the display will often feature new weapons, closely watched by leader Kim Jong Un.

But not every country that holds a military parade is necessarily authoritarian, well that’s up for debate.