Donald Trump and Melania arrive at military parade as crowd sings president ‘happy birthday’
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at Saturday’s 250th anniversary for the U.S. Army, which also coincides with the president’s 78th birthday.
Melania sported a cream pinstripe suit for the occasion.
The president and first lady arrived as the first drops of rain started falling, after Washington, D.C.’s possible bad weather held off all day, though with thunderstorms still predicted for later Saturday night.
Vice President J.D. Vance and Usha Vance arrived with their kids, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as other dignitaries waited onstage.
After the Star-Spangled banner, when there was a break in the programming, members of the crowd loudly broked out into ‘Happy Birthday’ for Trump.
Trump has denied that the military parade is in his honor – though he’s wanted to hold a Bastille Day-like parade since visting France in the opening months of his first term in 2017.
The parade kicked off in earnest shortly afterward.
Trump will speak later Saturday evening.
President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) arrive for Saturday’s 250th anniversary parade for the U.S. Army, which coincides with the president’s 79th birthday
The parade was set up to showcase the history of the Army, with the earliest period uniforms going first.
That means the 1st Cavalry Division – including its mascot Doc Holliday, a two year old blue heeler – was near the beginning of the pack.
The flyovers started during the World War II era, as Jeeps rolled down Constitution Avenue.
