The grand military parade that President Donald Trump wanted for eight years has barreled down Constitution Avenue in Washington with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute.

Coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, the parade will feature tanks, bands and thousands of troops in honor of the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The parade must go on, and the Army sidestepped a major crisis of image and messaging. The Army’s 250th birthday parade was not the grand military spectacle that many anticipated, and for that Americans can breathe a momentary, measured sigh of relief.

No Kings' protests decrying President Donald Trump are happening across the U.S. The army is hosting a military parade for its 250th birthday in Washington, D.C.

The commander-in-chief initially barred black soldiers from joining the ranks, but he came to understand the value—both moral and strategic—of a diverse force.

Nearly 2 in 3 U.S. adults — 64% — oppose the use of government funds for this weekend's military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army's 250th birthday, according to new data from the NBC News Decision Desk Poll,

Despite the parade, overall travel demand to Washington D.C. remains steady this weekend. Here's what travelers should know.