‘Cringe spectacle': US Army's parade in Trump's $45 Million birthday event mocked

Time of India

15-06-2025

President Donald Trump hosted the largest US military parade in decades on his 79th birthday as protesters rallied across the country to accuse him of acting like a dictator. - 'Happy Birthday' - Trump had openly dreamed since his first term as president of having a grand military parade of the type more often seen in Moscow or Pyongyang.
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US President Donald Trump marked his 79th birthday with a $45 million military parade in Washington, D.C., drawing scorn from social media users, critics, and even U.S. Army personnel for its tone-deaf extravagance amid widespread protests and global tensions.The event, which also commemorated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, featured nearly 7,000 troops, 150 military vehicles—including M1A1 Abrams and Sherman tanks—and 50 aircraft, including WWII-era P-51 Mustangs. Trump saluted from a stage outside the White House as the display rolled past under a cloudy Washington sky.Despite the fanfare, the parade was overshadowed by chaos both at home and abroad. Demonstrations erupted in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Atlanta, with hundreds of thousands rallying under the banner of "No Kings," criticizing what they saw as Trump's authoritarian leanings. In Los Angeles, police deployed tear gas on protesters. Internationally, tensions escalated as U.S. ally Israel exchanged missile fire with Iran.Trump's speech—uncharacteristically brief—focused on praising the military. 'They fight, fight, fight, and they win, win, win,' he said, hailing the U.S. as the 'hottest country in the world' and warning adversaries of 'total and complete defeat.'Critics, however, were unimpressed by the spectacle. Political columnist Thomas O. Falk wrote on X (formerly Twitter), 'Every single soldier looks like he'd rather be storming Omaha Beach right now. Trump may have wanted a China- or Russia-style show of strength, but this felt poorly choreographed—and ironically—made the U.S. Army look oddly feeble.'Others mocked the event's tone and visuals. 'This is not AI. This is not edited. This is not a Pride parade. This is not a movie scene. This is a military parade celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army and Donald Trump,' one user posted.'Either go all in or don't bother. French Bastille Day puts this to shame,' another tweet read. 'Trump proved again he's just a tacky showman.'Some even pointed out the irony of using DJI drones in the procession—despite Trump having banned the Chinese-made tech during his first term. 'Peak U.S. stupidity,' one commenter quipped.Although Trump has long expressed admiration for grand military parades like those seen in Moscow and Pyongyang, many questioned the optics and timing of the event. The last major U.S. military parade took place in 1991 at the end of the Gulf War.Despite the high cost and elaborate staging, critics say the parade failed to inspire—and instead, reinforced perceptions of an administration obsessed with appearances over substance.