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Fact check: Has Joe Biden approved any changes to military parade traditions or protocols?

Checked on June 18, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analysis of available sources, there is no evidence that Joe Biden has approved any changes to military parade traditions or protocols [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]. All sources examined fail to provide any documentation or reporting of Biden administration modifications to military parade procedures, ceremonial protocols, or traditional practices.

The sources instead focus heavily on President Donald Trump's military parade initiatives and controversies [2] [3] [4] [5], suggesting that recent discussions about military parade changes have centered around the previous administration rather than the current one. One source does mention Biden being criticized for having two Marines flank him during a Philadelphia speech in 2022, but this relates to speech staging rather than parade protocol changes [1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about what specific types of changes might be under consideration. The analyses reveal that recent military parade discussions have primarily focused on:

  • Trump-era controversies regarding the politicization of military ceremonies and their associated costs [3] [4]
  • The Army's 250th birthday celebrations and associated parade activities [1] [3] [5]
  • Broader military policy changes under Biden, such as missile technology policies and defense spending [6] [7]

The question also fails to specify whether it concerns federal military parades, state ceremonies, or specific branch traditions. Military officials and defense contractors would benefit from maintaining traditional parade structures due to established procurement and ceremonial contracts, while political figures might benefit from either preserving or modifying traditions depending on their messaging strategies.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the original statement is framed as a neutral question, it contains an implicit assumption that such changes have occurred or are under consideration. This framing could perpetuate unfounded speculation about Biden administration military policies without factual basis.

The question's timing is also significant, as it comes amid ongoing political discourse about military traditions and civilian-military relations. Political opponents of the Biden administration would benefit from promoting narratives about unnecessary changes to military traditions, while supporters would benefit from emphasizing continuity and respect for established protocols.

The complete absence of evidence across multiple recent sources [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [9] [6] [7] [8] suggests that any claims about Biden approving military parade changes would currently be unsupported by available reporting or documentation.

Want to dive deeper?
What are the current military parade protocols in the United States?
How have past US presidents modified military parade traditions?
What role does the Secretary of Defense play in approving military parade changes?
Are there any upcoming military parades or events that will reflect changes under Biden's administration?
How do other countries' military parade traditions compare to those in the US?