Washington, DC, marked a significant occasion on Saturday, celebrating both the 250th birthday of the United States Army and the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump.
Tanks and armored military vehicles rolled through the capital in a display that many saw as a lavish tribute, with critics labeling it a costly showcase for the ‘egoist-in-chief’.
In a speech following the hour-long procession—which took place amid light rain—President Trump positioned the event as a long-overdue celebration of American military prowess.
“Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did, too,” he stated to a crowd that filled the National Mall, albeit sparsely.
“That’s what we’re doing tonight,” he concluded, emphasizing patriotism through military recognition.
Vice President JD Vance was the sole official to address the dual significance of the day.
“June 14th is, of course, the birthday of the army. It is, of course, the birthday of the president of the United States,” Vance proclaimed. “Happy birthday, Mr. President.”
This concurrence of anniversaries was unsettling for some critics who saw it as a troubling mixing of military celebration and political self-interest.
Away from the military showcase, approximately 100 protesters gathered at Logan Circle.
Marine veteran Terry Mahoney articulated his discontent, calling the parade “dictator behavior.”
“If you take everything else he’s done, stomping on the US Constitution, this parade may just be window dressing,” he told Al Jazeera, expressing that it was symbolic of broader issues with Trump’s presidency.
Blocks from the protest, Taras Voronyy traveled from South Carolina to see the event and expressed a disconnect between the celebration of the military and Trump’s personal birthday.
“It’s a chance to celebrate the military, and also, Trump will be here,” he remarked, adding that he found the dual purpose somewhat confusing.
President Trump had long envisioned a grand military parade, being inspired by a 2017 Bastille Day celebration in Paris. After prior pushbacks from defense officials, Saturday’s event saw a significant military display featuring 28 Abrams tanks, cavalries, and various military aircraft—both modern and vintage.
Spectators lined Constitution Avenue, connecting the White House to the US Capitol, taking in a spectacle that narrated the army’s history, from its founding in 1775 through to modern engagements including the Vietnam War and the conflicts in the Middle East.
As the president arrived, the reaction from the crowd mixed support with dissent—evidenced by the presence of red Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats, yet with attendance notably lower than the estimated 200,000 predicted.
Freddie Delacruz, a 63-year-old army veteran who came from North Carolina, viewed the event as focused on celebrating the military rather than highlighting Trump’s birthday.
“It’s a coincidence,” he explained, drawing parallels with his own wedding date coinciding with D-Day.
Delacruz chose to demonstrate his support for the army, noting his own 32 years of service.
He downplayed concerns surrounding Trump’s recent deployment of the National Guard to California amid protests against ICE raids, which critics and local officials deemed an overreach of presidential power.
A judge ruled that Trump’s deployment was unlawful without the governor’s approval, though an appeals court temporarily paused that ruling, allowing the deployment to continue.
While acknowledging Trump’s extensive powers, Delacruz maintained that the president is still accountable to Congress and governs under the support of popular vote.
Aaron M, a 57-year-old veteran from Miami, also defended Trump’s actions regarding the use of federal troops for local policing.
He stated, “If governors can’t get their states under control, then Trump should send [the National Guard] in,” drawing from his experiences as a naturalized citizen from Nicaragua.
Contrarily, Anahi Rivas-Rodriguez, a 24-year-old from Texas, expressed concern that the military display amplified Trump’s militaristic stance on immigration.
“I do not stand by an America that tears families apart and targets people because they look brown and they look Mexican,” she said emotionally.
For Rivas-Rodriguez, participating in the protests symbolized a commitment to her country and a rejection of fear tactics used against marginalized communities.
As previously stated by Trump, he referred to protesters as individuals who “hate the country,” indicating they would face a strong response.
In continuity of the demonstrations, about 60 arrests took place at the US Capitol on the evening prior to the main parade day, although the subsequent protests remained largely peaceful.
Many protest groups opted to hold their rallies outside Washington, DC, including the nationwide “No Kings” protests that saw action in over 2,000 cities without a formal presence in the nation’s capital.
Those advocating against the display also highlighted concerns about costs, with estimates for the parade ranging between $25 million and $45 million, while federal services for veterans faced cuts.
Veteran Roland Roebuck, 77, criticized the event, feeling it belittled the significance of military service and disrespected veterans like himself who had served actively.
He drew attention to Trump’s perceived insensitivity toward military service, citing the president’s avoidance of the Vietnam War due to medical exemptions.
“This represents a farce,” he concluded, lamenting that many attendees appeared confused about what the parade represented in the context of military honor and service contributions.
The national military parade drew varied reactions, reflecting the complexity of celebrating national history, military strength, and contentious political climates in the current era.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/15/trump-presides-over-army-parade-celebration-or-dictator-behaviour
