Celebrating its 250th anniversary, the United States Army shared the limelight with Trump’s 79th birthday as military vehicles paraded through Washington, DC. Critics labeled it a costly homage to the “egoist-in-chief,” yet Trump framed it as a celebration long overdue, emphasizing that America needed to commemorate its victories like other nations do.
Despite sparse attendance and a mixed response, the event drew both admirers and protestors. Critics like Terry Mahoney, a Marine veteran, saw it as “dictator behavior,” contrasting the parade with what they viewed as Trump’s trampling on the US Constitution. Others like Taras Voronyy were more focused on celebrating the military, regardless of its timing with Trump’s birthday.
This celebration, Trump’s brainchild since witnessing a Bastille Day parade inParis in 2017, showcased a wide array of military hardware not seen since the Gulf War’s conclusion in 1991. While some, like Freddie Delacruz, a seasoned Army veteran, drew clear lines between Trump’s actions and the Army’s anniversary, others saw a more blurred line, joining the parade to honor both the military and Trump.
Delacruz didn’t see a significant issue with Trump deploying federal forces for local law enforcement, contrasting his views with those who feared a slide toward authoritarianism. The event, while drawing some two thousand “No Kings” protests nationwide, had no official presence in DC, highlighting the contentious nature of Trump’s leadership and policies, particularly regarding immigration and military veterans’ rights.
Despite sparse attendance and a mixed response, the event drew both admirers and protestors. Critics like Terry Mahoney, a Marine veteran, saw it as “dictator behavior,” contrasting the parade with what they viewed as Trump’s trampling on the US Constitution. Others like Taras Voronyy were more focused on celebrating the military, regardless of its timing with Trump’s birthday.
This celebration, Trump’s brainchild since witnessing a Bastille Day parade inParis in 2017, showcased a wide array of military hardware not seen since the Gulf War’s conclusion in 1991. While some, like Freddie Delacruz, a seasoned Army veteran, drew clear lines between Trump’s actions and the Army’s anniversary, others saw a more blurred line, joining the parade to honor both the military and Trump.
Delacruz didn’t see a significant issue with Trump deploying federal forces for local law enforcement, contrasting his views with those who feared a slide toward authoritarianism. The event, while drawing some two thousand “No Kings” protests nationwide, had no official presence in DC, highlighting the contentious nature of Trump’s leadership and policies, particularly regarding immigration and military veterans’ rights.
