On Saturday, President Donald Trump organized a hideously expensive military parade in Washington, DC Trump and his top officials on a stage on the National Mall behind two tanks, in front of two large digital US flags. Military chapels and troops marched through the streets – some on horseback, some in vehicles, in tanks, others with Haubitzen. A few robot dogs also ran along. A parachute team from the army jumped off. Helicopter flew past. Surrten drones. There were a lot of tanks.
The spectacle was announced as a honor of the 250th birthday of the US Army-and the organizers made an effort to sell this fiction with processions to honor important eras in American military history. In reality, the event was only a part of the TRUMP administration’s billion-dollar government campaign, which only served to make the president happy.
Parade as a birthday present for Trump
Behind closed doors, some government officials mockingly referred to the weekend as the “Donald Trump’s birthday parade”. She fulfilled Trump’s long -cherished wish for a large military parade. The parade started at the Pentagon in Virginia. The troops, among other things, the War of Independence, the Civil War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Global War against Terror had to march about four kilometers.
Trump was sitting next to his wife Melania and the former Fox news presenter, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth. In places, Trump was on stage alone, for example when he saluted the marching soldiers of the 1st cavalry division. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio caught yawning by C-span. The military representatives shown there spoke awesome about the war against terror.
Later Trump swore 250 new or mandatory soldiers on stage. “Welcome to the US Army and all the best for her life,” said Trump after the faithful. “Thank you very much. All the best for your life.”
Political speeches instead of celebration
After two hours the spectacle had reached its logical end: political speeches. JD Vance started briefly: “June 14, of course, is the army’s birthday,” said Vance. “And of course also the president of the United States’s birthday. Happy birthday, Mr. President.” Then his punch line followed: “By the way, it is also my wedding day” before he immediately left the stage.
Finally Trump spoke himself. He praised the army – and the armies of past times. “Our soldiers never give up, never give up and never listen. They fight, fight, fight and win, win, win, victories,” said Trump, obviously alluding to his own “Fight, Fight, Fight” declaration after being stripped on the ear last year in a failed assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump’s self -staging in the center
“We are currently the hottest country in the world,” said Trump. “Our country will soon be larger and stronger than ever.” America is “blessed by this esteemed legion of army warners”.
He continued: “No matter what obstacles-our warriors will move into the battle. They will fall into the fire and grab the crown of victory, because the United States will always have the grace of the almighty God and the iron will of the US Army. Congratulations to everyone. We love our country before. Thank you.
Trump stood next to his wife Melania for a moment before Trump campaign guest Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA” (Trump and Greenwood sell a Bible together). “Happy birthday, Mr. President,” said Greenwood.
Sponsors, propaganda and protests
Even before the speech, the C-Span feed looked like a mixture of military commercial and soft-rinsed Trump propaganda. Videos with Trump speeches kept running. A small banner occasionally showed: “Video with the kind permission of America 250.” The non-profit America 250, which is involved in the publicly financed campaign for the 250th anniversary of the United States, is now controlled by Trump confidants and one of his campaign strategists.
The economy also showed presence. “Special thanks to our sponsor Lockheed Martin,” said the moderator around 6:30 p.m., and mentioned America’s largest armaments group. Later he thanked “our special sponsor Coinbase”, the crypto exchange. As is well known, Trump loves cryptocurrencies-according to his financial report released on Friday, he earned $ 57 million in the last months of 2024 after he and his family founded their own crypto exchange “World Liberty Financial” (before launching his own $ Trump-Memecoin).
Around 7 p.m., the large screens turned on the stage of US flags into UFC logos. Sponsor Palantir was later mentioned-a data company that helps Trump to put together data about US citizens in various federal authorities.
The army distributed drinks by the sponsor Phorm Energy-a new drink from Anheuser-Busch and UFC-CEO Dana White with the taste “Screamin ‘Freedom”.
The parade was accompanied musically with rock music, including AC/DCS “Thunderstruck” during the section to the war against terror. Instrumental versions of Hearts “Barracuda” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” could also be heard.
In parallel: protests and military deterrence
The military parade took place under the direction of the US chief commander, while it led a militarized blow against immigrants in Los Angeles, which triggered protests. Trump sent national guards and Marines – not for peacekeeping, but as a demonstration of power and as a test run for similar missions in other states, Trump’s mood should require it – probably illegal.
“No Kings” protests took place on 2,000 locations across the country to protest against Trump’s “militarized birthday party”. Around 20,000 people gathered in the city center of Los Angeles, despite the use of non-fatal weapons by the police in previous protests and Trump’s escalation through the use of troops.
The security forces largely held back during the day, but used tear gas in the Atlanta area and, according to Fox 5 Atlanta, arrested eight people.
Sobering audience response despite the millions
For an event that paralyzed large parts of Washington DC, blocked streets and reported that up to $ 45 million, the promised demonstration of power in the US Army-by chance on the birthday of Trump-was a rather disappointing fan. The supporters, soldiers, curious locals and military people who were in the humids of after-storm heat in front of the White House, just filled the roadside assigned to them over a few blocks-with a lot of air in between.
In front of the main stage, a crowd gathered that corresponded to a medium -sized concert. The lawns around the Washington Monument – often a place for inaugurates, protests, concerts and major events – remained largely unused reserve areas.
TV pictures showed largely empty stands along the route. The National Park Service had granted permits for 250,000 people for the festival on the National Mall and the military parade. A parade of historical military planes flew over the National Mall, from Lincoln to Washington memorial- but instead of expected crowds, empty meadows and food stalls were seen.
Although rock music could be heard on television, the parade itself seemed geriably. A video published on X shows squeaky tanks that pass by mute spectators almost silently – like a poorly oiled shopping cart.
In the weeks before his birthday and the parade, Trump said close confidants that protesters would try to overshadow the parade – also in the media – in DC and elsewhere, and that he was determined to prevent this, report two informed sources to Rolling Stone.