Fact check: When did the plans for the 250 military parade start

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, the U.S. Army filed a permit on June 12, 2024 to celebrate its 250th birthday on the National Mall, indicating that formal planning for the event began at least by that date ^[1]. This represents the earliest concrete timeline found for when the plans officially started.

The Army had long planned a celebration for its semi-quincentennial on June 14, though the specific start date for these broader plans remains unclear ^[2]. By June 2025, preparations were actively underway, with soldiers conducting rehearsals and armored vehicles being prepared in the week leading up to the parade ^[3]. M1 tanks arrived in D.C. as preparations continued as of June 9, 2025 ^{[4] [5]}.

The parade coincided with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, with Army officials estimating around 200,000 people would attend the celebration ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important historical context about President Trump's long-standing interest in military parades. Trump first asked the Pentagon to organize a military parade in 2017 after attending Bastille Day festivities in France, representing an eight-year-long fascination with such displays ^{[4] [5] [7]}.

This context suggests that while the Army's 250th birthday provided the official occasion, Trump's personal interest in military parades may have influenced the decision to make this celebration particularly elaborate. The timing - coinciding with Trump's birthday - adds another layer of political significance that wasn't mentioned in the original question.

The sources also note that parades and reviews have a long history in military tradition ^[2], providing broader historical context for why such celebrations occur beyond any individual political figure's preferences.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual, simply asking for timeline information. However, it lacks the political context that Trump finally got the military parade he always wanted ^[1], which frames this event not just as a routine military anniversary celebration but as the fulfillment of a long-held presidential ambition.

The question also doesn't acknowledge that this represents a significant departure from recent precedent, as military parades became a symbol of national pride but had not been regularly featured in recent decades ^[7]. By omitting Trump's role in pushing for military parades since 2017, the question presents this as purely a military-initiated celebration rather than one that may have been influenced by presidential preferences.