Trump’s Military Parade Draws Praise, Protests on 79th Birthday \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday with a grand military parade featuring tanks, soldiers, and aerial displays. While the display showcased American military power, it also sparked nationwide protests condemning the event as authoritarian. The spectacle marked the Army’s 250th anniversary but reignited fierce political debate over its cost and symbolism.
Quick Looks
- Trump stages long-sought military parade on 79th birthday
- Over 6,000 troops, tanks, and aircraft participated in D.C. event
- Parade commemorated Army’s 250th anniversary
- Rain and weather concerns dampened public turnout
- Protests erupted nationwide over authoritarian symbolism
- $45 million price tag drew public and political criticism
- Poll: Majority say parade was not a good use of funds
- Trump sworn in 250 Army recruits during the ceremony
Deep Look
On a rain-slicked Saturday in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump marked his 79th birthday and Flag Day with a spectacle that merged military power, national pride, and fierce political debate. In an event designed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Trump presided over a military parade he had long envisioned — one that echoed the grandeur of foreign pageantry, yet drew sharp domestic criticism.
Positioned on a presidential viewing stand just south of the White House, Trump watched as over 6,000 soldiers, armored vehicles, and helicopters paraded down Constitution Avenue. He saluted marching troops and later addressed the crowd with characteristic bravado, praising the U.S. military as an unstoppable force. “They fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win,” he declared, adapting a familiar rally chant from his 2024 campaign following an assassination attempt that redefined his public narrative.
This show of military strength had been a dream for Trump since attending a Bastille Day parade in Paris in 2017. Though his earlier efforts as president were stymied by logistical concerns and political opposition, his second term brought renewed authority — and with it, the ability to actualize the full-scale display on American soil. The parade was folded into long-standing plans for the Army’s anniversary celebration, giving it both patriotic context and presidential flair.
However, what played out on the streets of D.C. was not met with universal applause. Around the nation, “No Kings” protests erupted, underscoring what many critics perceive as authoritarian tendencies. Demonstrators flooded the capital with signs reading “No to Trump’s fascist military parade” and “Flip me off if you’re a FASCIST.” In a particularly biting satire, a towering puppet of Trump adorned with a crown and seated on a golden toilet was paraded through protest crowds.
Despite the administration’s hopes for massive public attendance, the actual turnout lagged behind projections. Organizers initially expected upward of 200,000 spectators, but rain and humidity appeared to suppress those numbers. Large gaps lined the National Mall, even as a military flyover and ceremonial cavalry march added dramatic touches to the procession.
Early in the day, the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team descended over the National Mall, arriving earlier than planned due to worsening skies. Military aircraft, including World War II-era bombers and helicopters, roared over the capital, though planned Air Force jet flyovers were grounded due to weather.
Yet the symbolic weight of the event extended far beyond Washington. In California, protests over Trump’s immigration enforcement policies turned volatile. Marines deployed by presidential order — despite the California governor’s objections — stood in formation outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles. Protesters confronted them with chants in English and Spanish, while police later cleared the crowd using tear gas, batons, and mounted officers, sparking outrage and a lawsuit by the state.
Trump’s use of military force domestically — from deploying federal agents during civil unrest to ordering National Guard interventions — has drawn sustained criticism from civil liberties groups and political opponents. They argue that blending presidential celebration with military force sets a dangerous precedent and blurs the line between democratic governance and martial display.
Still, the president’s supporters praised the event. Vendors sold Trump-themed merchandise near the Army festival, and patriotic music filled the air. Country singers Warren Zeiders and Lee Greenwood performed, and a fireworks display lit up the cloudy evening. Veterans like Doug Haynes and Larry Stallard traveled across state lines to witness the spectacle, expressing pride in the military and admiration for Trump’s boldness.
Haynes, a Navy veteran, summed up a sentiment shared by many attendees: “Having tanks roll down the street is a very bold statement to the world, perhaps.” Yet even among Trump supporters, the parade’s cost — estimated at up to $45 million — drew mixed reactions. Some argued the funds could have been redirected to veterans’ services or infrastructure.
A poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center reflected this divide: 60% of Americans said the parade was not a good use of taxpayer money, though 78% reported feeling neutral about the parade itself.
As the event closed with President Trump swearing in 250 new Army recruits, he left the crowd with a signature flourish: “Welcome to the United States Army! And have a great life.” The moment capped a day meant to honor the military, but one that also spotlighted the growing polarization surrounding Trump’s leadership.
Whether viewed as a patriotic celebration or an authoritarian display, the 2025 military parade has cemented itself as a defining moment of Trump’s second term — a show of might, message, and mounting division in a nation still wrestling with its democratic identity.
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