Fact check: Did Joe Biden approve the army parade

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Joe Biden did not approve the army parade. The evidence shows a clear distinction between what Biden's administration actually approved versus the military parade in question.

According to the most recent source, Biden's administration approved a permit for a modest festival celebrating the Army's 250th birthday, not a large-scale military parade ^[1]. The analysis reveals that the separate permit for the military parade was actually filed under Trump's administration in March 2025 ^[1].

Historical context shows that Biden has been consistently opposed to military parades, with sources indicating that in 2018, Biden criticized Trump's request for a military parade, stating it "undercuts everything about [U.S.] power" ^[2]. The actual military parade that took place was described as a "Massive Army 250 parade" that occurred on Trump's 79th birthday, with no mention of Biden's involvement or approval ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the timing and political circumstances surrounding these events. The analyses reveal that there were concerns about the politicization of the military and Trump's use of the military for political gain ^[4], which provides important background for understanding why the distinction between Biden's modest festival approval and Trump's parade matters.

Military officials and defense analysts would benefit from clarifying this distinction to maintain the military's non-partisan reputation, while Trump's political supporters might benefit from conflating Biden's festival approval with support for Trump's more elaborate military display.

The missing context also includes the significant costs associated with military parades ^[5] and the broader implications for civil-military relations during a period of political turmoil that has strained the Army ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a fundamental factual error by suggesting Biden approved "the army parade" when evidence clearly shows he did not. This type of misattribution could stem from:

• Deliberate conflation of Biden's approval of a modest festival with Trump's military parade
• Confusion about timeline and administrative responsibility, given that the parade permit was filed under Trump's administration ^[1]
• Potential spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation, as evidenced by the broader pattern of unfounded claims circulating about Biden ^{[7] [8]}

The question's framing benefits those seeking to either credit or blame Biden for a military display he did not authorize, while obscuring Trump's actual role in organizing the parade. This type of misattribution serves to muddy the waters of political accountability and could contribute to the ongoing politicization of military events that officials have expressed concern about ^[4].