WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - Happy birthday to the U.S. Army at 250 and Donald Trump at 79!
Military Parade Led by Donald Trump: Festivity or Display of Authoritarianism?
It was a double celebration in Washington, D.C. as the streets pulsed with thunderous, rumbling tanks and armored vehicles parading in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th birthday and President Donald Trump's 79th.
Critics had labelled it a pricey ego trip for the "power-hungry king", while Trump, basking in the spectacle, called it long overdue. He took the podium after the hour-long parade and emphasized the importance of honoring America's victories, just like every other nation.
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In an ironic twist, Trump and the army shared the same significant date—June 14th! Vice President JD Vance acknowledged both the army's 250th anniversary and Trump's birthday, wishing the president a happy birthday and celebrating the armed forces' commitment to serving this great nation.
A tiny controversy bubbled among critics, who saw this overlap as a disquieting signal. Meanwhile, approximately 100 protesters at Logan Circle voiced their dissent, describing the military display as "authoritarian behavior," questioning Trump's documented disdain for military service and his attempts to erode the US Constitution.
The People's Choice
While the 100 protesters stirred the pot, Taras Voronyy, a South Carolina traveler, couldn't have cared less about the political undertones. For Voronyy, the event was all about celebrating the valor of military heroes and welcoming the presence of President Trump.
"It's part of the show, and Trump will be here – I wasn't sure whether it was meant for the army's 250th anniversary or for Trump's birthday, so it's a bit of a combo!" Voronyy shared his thoughts.
The parade, originally envisioned by Trump during the 2017 Bastille Day celebration in Paris, finally took shape in Washington, D.C. With 28 M1A2 Abrams tanks, a horde of armored vehicles, cavalry, military planes and helicopters, the event showcased a grand display of military prowess not seen since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.
Spectators, sprawled across the National Mall, roared their approval as modern and antique military vehicles rolled through the completely transformed streets. The event traced the U.S. Army's evolution from the Revolutionary War to the present, portraying its impressive capacity to adapt amidst changing times.
Veteran spectator Freddie Delacruz observed that the parade and the army's birthday were two separate entities. "It's just a coincidence," Delacruz remarked. "I've spent 32 years in the army, and I'm here to see the show – tanks, planes, helicopters!"
Unbuckling the Belt
The administration's recent deployment of the US National Guard to quell protests against controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids has sparked controversy. Critics claim it represents a significant escalation and overreach of power, while supporters argue it's necessary to maintain law and order.
A judge ruled the deployment in California unlawful after California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging it, but the courts temporarily allowed it to continue. Veteran Delacruz seemed unperturbed, saying, "He's got the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and now, all the cabinet members are supporting him 100 percent. But he's still just the president, and he can't control Congress."
Protesting is Patriotic
Protests against the parade and Trump's leadership were everywhere, but none were as moving as the speech given by 24-year-old Anahi Rivas-Rodriguez from McAllen, Texas. She voiced her fears about the increasingly divisive immigration policies and their dangerous fusion with military power.
"I have a lot of people in my life who are scared. We don't belong in a fear-ridden America," Rivas-Rodriguez cried out, her voice quivering. "I do not stand for an America that tears families apart and targets people because they look Mexican, because they look like me."
Ironically, in an opposite corner of the city, Roland Roebuck, a 77-year-old African-American Vietnam War veteran from Puerto Rico, came to protest the parade. He railed against Trump's historical draft-dodging, financial lavishness, and the administration's discriminatory policies.
"The parade is a farce! It's a representation of military self-indulgence and political opportunism," Roebuck decried. "The event is a waste of resources when so many federal services, including those for veterans, are being slashed left and right."
- The administration's decision to deploy the US National Guard to address the immigration and customs enforcement raids has become a topic of debate, with critics viewing it as a significant escalation of power and overreach.
- Protests against immigration policies were prevalent during the parade, with speeches from concerned individuals like 24-year-old Anahi Rivas-Rodriguez, who expressed her fears about the divisive fusion of immigration policies with military power.
- In a separate corner of the city, Roland Roebuck, a 77-year-old African-American Vietnam War veteran from Puerto Rico, protested the parade, criticizing Trump's historical avoidance of military service, extravagant lifestyle, and discriminatory policies.
- The parade, initially envisioned by Trump during the 2017 Bastille Day celebration in Paris, was a blend of general news (the army's 250th anniversary) and sports (military prowess display), intertwined with political undertones and crime-and-justice issues (debates on the use of force, immigration policies, and constitutional rights).
