Trump to celebrate U.S. Forces at public event in NC ahead of military parade
President Donald Trump plans to visit Fort Bragg Tuesday for a celebration of “the strength and selflessness of U.S. forces” as part of the 250th anniversary of the Army.
The event is open to the public.
The announcement came from the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, charged by Congress with planning celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“Americans will gather at Fort Bragg — home to the most elite military in the world — to celebrate the unmatched strength, sacrifice and accomplishments of the men and women who defend our nation,” a news release stated. “This special event will honor the courageous warriors ready to defend liberty at a moment’s notice and recognize their enduring commitment to America’s security and values.”
Along with Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, who is a North Carolina native, will attend Tuesday’s event.
The commission plans to honor past and present service members and include live demonstrations to showcase the operational capabilities of the military. Patriotic musical performances will also take place.
The event is intended to be a lead-up to a larger celebration for the Army’s 250th Anniversary on Saturday, which happens to fall on Trump’s birthday.
In Washington, on Saturday, the commission plans for a day of events that concludes with an evening military parade down Constitution Avenue and a fireworks show.
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is the largest U.S. military installation, based on population, in the world and is home to the Airborne and Special Operations Forces.
“This base is not only a symbol of military excellence but also a living legacy of courage, discipline, and the will to win,” the news release stated.
The base became one of Trump’s focuses during his reelection campaign after his predecessor, President Joe Biden, renamed the base Fort Liberty in 2023. Biden’s decision stemmed from his desire not to honor a Confederate leader, Gen. Braxton Bragg, whom the base was named for in 1918.
Trump vowed throughout his campaign to restore the name to Bragg once he was president.
Shortly after Hegseth’s confirmation as defense secretary, he signed an order restoring the name, but this time, honoring Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg during World War II.
Bragg is a Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient for wounds he sustained and for saving the life of a fellow soldier.
Trump in North Carolina
Trump is a frequent visitor of North Carolina, having held more than 50 campaign stops in the state. He made his first official trip in his second term to Asheville to see the damage sustained from Helene, a hurricane that made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm and tore up the East Coast, killing at least 107 people in North Carolina.
Trump’s second trip falls just two days after the conclusion of the North Carolina Republican Party’s convention that begins Thursday in Greensboro.
It also falls one week after Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville, announced he hired three of Trump’s campaign officials: Tony Fabrizio, Tim Saler and Jim McCray to help run his reelection campaign. Republicans are determined to hold on to Tillis’ Senate seat in the midterms, as the party tries to keep the majority.
This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM.
