Outlook Business Desk
On June 14, US President Donald Trump marked his 79th birthday with a $45 million military parade in Washington, D.C. The event sparked backlash from critics, social media users and even some in the Army, who called it tone-deaf amid ongoing protests and rising global tensions.
On the same day as the US Army’s 250th anniversary, the parade featured nearly 7,000 troops, 150 military vehicles—including M1A1 Abrams and Sherman tanks—and 50 aircraft like vintage P-51 Mustangs. Trump saluted from a stage near the White House as the procession rolled through a cloudy Washington.
The grand spectacle couldn’t mask the unrest unfolding across the US and beyond. Protests broke out in cities like New York, Houston and Atlanta, where hundreds of thousands marched under the “No Kings” banner, accusing Trump of authoritarianism.
In Los Angeles, police used tear gas as protests turned tense. On the same day, global tensions rose with a missile exchange between US ally Israel and Iran.
Trump gave a short speech, where he praised the military. He said, “They fight, fight, fight, and they win, win, win,” calling the US the “hottest country in the world” and warned enemies of “total and complete defeat.”
Many on social media mocked the event for looking too showy and overdone. “This isn’t AI-generated, it’s not a Pride parade or a movie scene. It’s a real military parade for the US Army’s 250th birthday—and for Donald Trump,” one user wrote.
Some users highlighted the irony of DJI drones being used in the parade—even though Trump had banned the Chinese-made technology during his first term. “Peak US stupidity,” one person commented.
While Trump has often praised the large-scale military parades of Moscow and Pyongyang, many critics questioned the timing and message of this display. The last major US military parade was held in 1991, marking the end of the Gulf War.