By Josh Dawsey and Meridith McGraw
Donors are being offered a "dedicated VIP experience" at several events that President Trump is planning with the U.S. military this summer, according to several donors familiar with the matter.
Those who give to America250, a committee created to support what Trump envisions as a large national celebration next year for America's 250th birthday, will be given special access to three events, according to a pitch shared with donors. Those include a military parade Trump is planning on his birthday, a "military readiness" event he is leading at Fort Bragg military base with thousands of troops and an Independence Day celebration in Washington, the people said.
The America250 group -- which was founded in 2016 as a nonpartisan group -- is designed to support the celebrations next year. Several Trump advisers have begun working on the events, including fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke, who is handling some of the fundraising.
O'Rourke didn't respond to a request for comment.
Trump plans to visit Fort Bragg, N.C., on June 10 for a "readiness demonstration," according to the pitch made to donors, where he will address thousands of troops.
The rally will include a military flyover, according to the presentation, and will be filmed as part of a "national broadcast special," donors were told.
A few days later, on June 14, Trump is attending a military parade that will proceed down Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., according to the donor pitch. The parade will include tanks, military re-enactments and flyovers, and the president will watch from an "official review stand" before delivering remarks. Military members will then participate in a re-enlistment ceremony.
"There is no event grand enough to adequately capture our gratitude for the millions of heroes who laid down their lives defending our freedom, but this parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of all who have worn the uniform," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. She added that the cost would be shared by the Army and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
June 14 is Trump's 79th birthday. He wanted to preside over a military parade in his first term, but encountered opposition. Some of his previous advisers had urged him against a military parade, and city officials had raised concerns about the tanks tearing up city streets.
John Bolton, the president's former national security adviser, said Trump was determined to have a military parade after seeing a Bastille Day event in Paris. Trump's advisers told him that the U.S. doesn't do "military parades unless there is a reason," Bolton said.
"The arguments that finally convinced him not to was that if you run tanks down the streets of Washington, you're going to rip the streets up. The cost and the repair and the discombobulation will irritate people," Bolton said.
In 1991, tanks and troops paraded through Washington to honor the military's victory in the Gulf War.
Trump will also hold an event in Washington on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day, the pitch says. At the event, Trump plans to unveil several national initiatives, including the "Great America State Fair" and the "Patriot Games," according to the donor pitch. There will be concerts and a presidential speech.
Trump is currently fundraising for a constellation of groups, including his PAC, a presidential library and the celebration next year.
"We have the Olympics and the World Cup. And we have something that maybe surpasses everything, the 250th anniversary of our country. So, that's going to be great," Trump said recently at the White House. "That's going to be a very big event, a yearlong event."
Bolton said there was a "seemliness question" of parading the military around and pitching donors on events related to the military.
"I don't think that will bother the Trump White House," Bolton said.
Write to Josh Dawsey at Joshua.Dawsey@WSJ.com and Meridith McGraw at Meridith.McGraw@WSJ.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 16, 2025 11:00 ET (15:00 GMT)
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