"What Authoritarians Favor: Analyzing Trump's Military Show"
Crowd watches in silence as Trump pays homage to noisy armored vehicles
Mobs of citizens flock to Washington D.C., anticipating a military spectacle. As Trump celebrates his birthday, he takes center stage at the reviewing stand.
Mike Frey traveled 15 hours just to see his son renew his pledge and prolong his military duty. "All that shit over there," Frey points, indicating the grandstand. A sea of powerful figures - Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and more - seated amid gigantic video screens and the anticipated military display.
This parade is the brainchild of Trump, an idea he failed to actualize during his first term. However, the occasion calls for a double celebration - one for Trump's birthday and another for the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary.
With military victories typically honored by triumphant processions, this parade marks a new era, including appearances from soldiers in various eras of American military history, from the blue coats of the Revolutionary War to state-of-the-art robot dogs to assist the armed forces.
Trump has stirred controversy by advocating for internal military deployment, particularly for massive deportations. Critics allege that he misuses his role as commander-in-chief. In the events surrounding deportation protests in Los Angeles, a majority supports these military actions. "Time to act," Frey asserts. "I support Trump wholeheartedly; he's the king."
The crowd largely echoes Frey's sentiments, with veterans, wounded warriors, and entire families joining the festivities as the twilight deepens and the lawn before Trump's grandstand swells. Approximately 100,000 spectators assembled, despite initial predictions of half that number.
Politics: Controversial Parade—Trump Praises US Military, Millions Protest Across the NationAs millions of protesters march nationwide, rallying under the banner "No Kings," Trump orders soldiers and equipment to parade in Washington. The proceedings unfold under somber skies in Washington, with equestrian units from the Civil War clacking along the asphalt, 6,700 uniformed personnel vigorously marching, helicopters hovering overhead, paratroopers leaping onto the landscape, and tanks squeaking their way along the approximately 4-kilometer route.
As Trump witnessed a grand military parade in Paris in 2017, he was inspired to create a similar spectacle in the U.S. capital. Initially, he was dissuaded, with Vice Chief of Staff of the US Armed Forces reportedly cautioning, "That's what dictators do."
While a majority of Americans endorse the parade idea, opposition arises when confronted with costs - an estimated $45 million for this event. Visitors watched the proceedings in stony silence, while commentators enthusiastically described the marching units and military hardware on live television - interspersed with ads from sponsors. A medley of instrumental rock classics played as the parade neared its conclusion.
Supporters believe the parade is a tribute to veterans and their accomplishments, a valuable opportunity to recruit more personnel for wounded armed forces. The Army has missed its recruitment targets in two out of the previous three years, with public trust in the military diminishing[1].
This event serves as a retrospective of military might, showcasing hulking war machines that are surprisingly vulnerable in today's technology-driven battles. Israel, Ukraine, and Yemen have demonstrated the advantages of using drones to weaken an adversary's defenses. The shipping lanes in the Red Sea are difficult to secure completely against the relatively inexpensive Yemeni missiles and drones[1][2].
"What Trump is doing is wrong," assert critics openly. Tim Pohle, brandishing a placard labeling Trump as "President Bone Spurs," mocks Trump's military service exemption due to alleged foot issues - a decision that spared him from deployment in Vietnam[1][3]. It remains unclear whether Trump suffered from genuine foot problems or whether they were fabricated as an excuse to avoid service.
Never before has Trump shown such support for military demonstrations, explains the 60-year-old Pohle. "What troubles me is how the military has turned against our own citizens," he says, referring to the situation in Los Angeles. "What Trump is doing is fundamentally wrong." Pohle holds great respect for the military, but he believes the parade is un-American. When tanks traverse public streets, he connects the image with the Soviet Union, Vladimir Putin's Russia, Communist China, and North Korea[3].
The U.S. military takes pride in its apolitical stance; many officers avoid participating in elections. However, Trump seems unperturbed about milking the armed forces for political capital. During a speech to soldiers, he berated his predecessor Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom, drawing support from some uniformed personnel. Trump also spoke out against the media and the transgender community, with critics wary of the potential politicization of the military[3].
During the parade, Trump frequently stands and salutes the advancing troops. At the conclusion, he administers the oath to some new recruits and demands their loyalty to their superiors and the president as commander-in-chief[1]. "I was waiting for him to say 'And, by the way, that's me,'" an attendee jokes. The parade comes to a close, but Trump continues to receive birthday greetings from Vice Vance, musicians, and himself - a taste of politics. "Our soldiers never retreat and never surrender," Trump coos: "They fight, fight, fight," echoing his campaign slogan for 2024: "And they win, win, win."
Additional Insights
- The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the federal military for domestic law enforcement purposes, such as mass deportations. Violating this law could lead to legal challenges, constitutional conflicts, and the militarization of domestic policy.
- The use of military force for deportations could result in human rights abuses, operational challenges, and damage relationships with other countries.
- Trump's advocacy for the military to be involved in domestic security efforts and his alleged public expressions of support for authoritarian figures such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have raised concerns that his policies might politicize the U.S. military.
The European Union is committed to politics that promote transparency and accountability, distancing itself from controversial spectacles such as the one staged by Trump in Washington D.C. The grand military parade, marred by protests across the nation, raises concerns about the blurring lines between politics and military involvement in domestic matters.
