Georgia Rep. Floyd Griffin questions President Trump’s military parade set June 14, Trump’s birthday

ATLANTA – State Representative Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville, GA ) today issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement to hold a military parade celebration in Washington, D.C.:

“President Trump recently announced plans to hold a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2025, featuring approximately 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft carriers to commemorate both the U.S. Army’s 250^th birthday and his own. As a retired combat veteran (Vietnam), I deeply respect the service and sacrifice of our U.S. Armed Forces, but using our military as props in a celebration that falls on our president’s birthday raises concerns about his purpose and priorities. The Trump administration’s blatant disregard for veterans – evident in their efforts to cut the VA’s funding – raises the question of how sincere their desire for a celebration of our country’s military actually is. 

“Furthermore, a spectacle such as this does not come without a heavy taxpayer investment. The total cost of the events has been estimated to be upwards of $45 million with individual army units bearing some of the financial burden of the parade. On top of funding the spectacle, taxpayers and the city could be subject to costly road repairs from the damage of these military tanks and vehicles. At a time when the Trump administration claims to be cutting government spending, what sort of message does this frivolous military performance send?

“Veterans and active-duty members don’t need a politically-motivated performance. They need action and real investments in healthcare, mental health services, streamlined workforce opportunities and timely benefits processing. This is the true American way of honoring service members, not with a taxpayer-funded tank parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. The president has shown time and time again that his priorities for Americans lie elsewhere, and this display of power is another example of this administration’s attempt at distracting the American people from his harmful actions.” 

Representative Floyd Griffin represents the citizens of District 149, which includes portions of Baldwin, Bibb and Jones counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Special Rules and State Planning & Community Affairs committees.