Fact check: Which presidents have missed the Army birthday parade and why?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, none of the sources explicitly identify which presidents have historically missed Army birthday parades or provide their reasons for absence ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The analyses focus primarily on a specific recent event - the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary parade that coincided with President Trump's 79th birthday ^{[1] [4]}.

The sources reveal that President Donald Trump attended this particular military parade in Washington, D.C. ^[1], though the event faced significant challenges including lower than expected attendance (fewer than 10,000 versus the targeted 20,000), a subdued atmosphere, and notably absent family members including potentially Ivanka and Barron Trump ^[5]. The parade was estimated to cost between $25-45 million and featured hundreds of military vehicles and thousands of soldiers ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes a pattern of presidential absences from Army birthday parades, but the analyses reveal limited historical context about such events. One source mentions that the last military parade held in Washington, D.C. was in 1991 to celebrate victory in Operation Desert Storm ^[3], suggesting these large-scale military parades are relatively rare events rather than annual presidential obligations.

Veterans themselves were divided on the parade, with some supporting it as a celebration of military history while others criticized it as being more focused on Trump's personal birthday celebration than honoring the Army ^[4]. This division highlights how the event served dual purposes - commemorating the Army's founding on June 14, 1775, while simultaneously celebrating Trump's birthday ^{[4] [6]}.

The analyses also show that some Republican lawmakers chose not to attend the parade ^[2], indicating that even political allies may have reservations about such events, though their specific reasons aren't detailed in the sources.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that presidents regularly miss Army birthday parades, when the evidence suggests these large-scale military parades are exceptional rather than routine events ^[3]. The framing implies a pattern of presidential neglect that isn't supported by the available data.

Additionally, the question's focus on "missed" parades may reflect bias by suggesting presidential attendance is expected or required, when the Army's 250th anniversary represents a unique milestone celebration rather than an annual tradition ^[6]. The sources indicate this was a special commemorative event rather than part of regular presidential duties, making the premise of the question potentially misleading about the nature and frequency of such military celebrations.