Fact check: Was permission for the Army's 250th parade given by Biden

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, Biden did not give permission for the Army's 250th parade as it ultimately occurred. The evidence shows a clear timeline where the initial permit was filed during Biden's presidency, but the event was dramatically transformed after Trump took office ^[1].

The parade that actually took place was held during Trump's presidency, with Trump in attendance and delivering remarks at the event ^{[2] [3]}. Multiple sources confirm that Trump was the sitting president who oversaw the final version of the parade, which celebrated both the Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday ^[2]. The Washington Post specifically notes that "the plans changed dramatically after Donald Trump was elected" ^[1], indicating that whatever initial permission may have existed under Biden was superseded by Trump's administration.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the timeline and administrative transition between the two presidencies. While an initial permit may have been filed under Biden ^[1], the parade that actually occurred was fundamentally different from what was originally planned.

Key missing context includes:

• The dramatic changes that occurred to the parade plans after Trump's election ^[1]
• The fact that the parade served a dual purpose - celebrating the Army's anniversary while also marking Trump's 79th birthday ^[2]
• Political screening of soldiers who would appear at the event, suggesting the parade had significant political dimensions beyond a simple military celebration ^[4]

The question also fails to acknowledge that military parades and their permissions involve complex bureaucratic processes that can span multiple administrations, making simple attribution of "permission" potentially misleading.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question contains potential bias by implying Biden was responsible for authorizing what was ultimately Trump's signature military parade. This framing could mislead people into believing Biden endorsed or facilitated an event that became closely associated with Trump's political agenda.

The question's phrasing suggests a false equivalency - while Biden's administration may have processed initial paperwork, the parade that actually occurred was Trump's vision and execution. Sources indicate that soldiers were specifically screened for appearance and politics ahead of Trump's visit ^[4], demonstrating that the final event had political considerations that would not have been present in a standard military anniversary celebration.

By asking about Biden's "permission" without acknowledging the fundamental transformation of the event under Trump, the question potentially spreads misinformation about presidential responsibility and the nature of the parade itself.