MAGA money and manpower running Trump's military parade create a sickening spectacle of shame
Today was supposed to be a day to honor our armed forces and our flag. It was intended as a day for reflection, reverence, and gratitude. June 14 is also Donald Trump's 79th birthday, so instead of reverence or anything good, for that matter, the day has been hijacked, co-opted by a cult of personality, turned into a grotesque celebration of criminality and authoritarianism.
Keep up with the latest in + news and politics.
Donald Trump's so-called military parade, allegedly to mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, is nothing less than a thinly veiled birthday bash for Trump, and if things couldn't get any worse, a whitewashed victory lap for the MAGA operatives, and money, that helped ignite one of the darkest days in American history, January 6, 2021.
The same criminals and conspirators who organized the 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6 are behind the scenes orchestrating Trump's dictator-like, self-serving parade, as Mother Jones reports, . The MAGA operatives are not hiding in shame. They are not lurking in the shadows. They are out in the open as planners of a celebration that will see American troops forced to march in the service of Trump's ego, with the stain of MAGA on their boots.
Top figures from Trump's Stop the Steal apparatus have been woven into the White House Task Force on America 250, the organization orchestrating the parade, according to the publication. This includes Chris LaCivita, Trump's 2024 campaign co‑manager and America 250 cochair, now helping oversee planning.
It also includes shadowy figures like Megan Powers, Hannah Salem Stone, and Monica Crowley, each embedded in the January 6 Stop the Steal movement. They are bringing their extremist credentials to the helm of what should be a nonpartisan celebratory task force.
Even the parade's sponsors deepen the influence of Trump's political network: Tech and corporate heavyweights like Palantir (backed by Peter Thiel), Coinbase, and UFC (Trump sycophant Dana White), Coinbase (of course cryptocurrency follows Trump everywhere) have financially propped up America 250's efforts and therefore the parade.
All this participation by these MAGA movers and shakers — and their money — undercuts any pretense of neutrality, aligning private interests and campaign assets with a parade planned and executed by individuals tied to an insurrection.
In other words, the military gets lost in all of the Trump MAGA hoopla.
Obviously, this overlap has alarmed critics who warn that the infrastructure used to equip and transport mobilized crowds for the Capitol attack is now being repurposed for what they see as a politicized, militarized spectacle in Washington.
This is not normal. This is not American. And, sadly, very sadly, it has nothing to do with the military.
The U.S. military has long stood as an institution above politics, a force committed to defending the Constitution, not acting as a clown show at Trump's backyard birthday party, But today, tanks will roll and troops will march not to honor the Army's service but to feed the fantasy of a man who once suggested soldiers who died in battle were 'suckers' and 'losers.'
It is a disgusting perversion of everything the military stands for.
Let's take a look back at how tarnished these individuals are by their association with the January 6 National Mall rally. Trump's senior aides were well aware that the Jan. 6 rally could turn violent, as ProPublica reported after the fiasco,. They knew it was 'highly combustible' yet did nothing to stop it.
In fact, many cheered it on. And some of those same figures, those who summoned the gun-toting extremists, the Confederate-flag-wavers, the militia thugs and white nationalists, are now reemerging from the muck to plan a 'celebration' of American might.
What do you think happens if Trump's military parade turns violent? Will these same aides shriek in horror or applaud with pride?
Is it any wonder Trump is so enamored with dictator-style parades? He's long admired the authoritarian pageantry of Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, even Hitler. To him, military power is not a sacred trust. No, there's no such thing as trust in Trump's mind or vocabulary. Instead, it's a personal accessory, and a tool of dominance.
And just like any good dictator (I realize that's an oxymoron), Trump is surrounded by not only military soldiers, but foot soldiers from his personal MAGA army, a hodgepodge of criminals, conspiracy freaks, and catalysts for destruction and chaos.
And disgustingly, sitting on the dias with him will most likely be Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, and Kash Patel. They are Trump's Himmler, Goebbels, and Göring, the mouthpieces of election lies, the peddlers of racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.
The fact that the U.S. military is being dragged into this theater is an insult not only to everyoner who has ever worn the uniform but to the principles they swore to defend. This isn't a show of strength. Not even close. It's a demonstration of the betrayal of democracy.
These are the people who sent mobs to the Capitol to hang Mike Pence and hunt Nancy Pelosi. These are the people who smeared feces on the walls of the Senate chamber, who beat police officers with flagpoles, who invoked the name of Jesus while desecrating the heart of our democracy.
And now they'll smile and wave as U.S. Army soldiers march by them in lockstep. This isn't just offensive. It's dangerous.
It will be a performance choreographed not to honor America but to distort it. And let's be real and honest, some, perhaps many of the soldiers in that parade, will not be comfortable taking part. They will march not for pride, not for politics, but for allegiance to a dictatorship.
They will be exploited, used as stagecraft for a man who used five deferments to dodge service himself.
Sadly, we do not celebrate our military today. That's been lost in all the controversy around Trump's pompous persona parade. Perhaps, today we mourn the way our military used to be.
And, we do not wave the flag in pride today on Flag Day. Instead, that flag is being managed by people who have used it to stir hate and division.
And sadly, we do not honor freedom. Today, we witness its slow suffocation under the boot of those who would trade justice for loyalty.
Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
Nezza says her Spanish rendition of U.S. anthem at Dodger Stadium was against team's wishes
LOS ANGELES — As protests were in full force in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night, a Spanish rendition of the United States national anthem was sung at Dodger Stadium. Vanessa Hernández, more commonly known as Nezza, sang 'El Pendón Estrellado' — the official Spanish version commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Advertisement Except, according to Nezza, the Los Angeles Dodgers told her not to, citing the club's usual standard practice of having anthem singers perform in English. 'We are going to do the song in English today,' an unidentified Dodgers employee told Nezza in a video she posted on TikTok. 'I'm not sure if that wasn't relayed.' She sang the song anyway, donning a Dominican Republic shirt, explaining in a later video that she chose to sing the Spanish version in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in Los Angeles that has spurred protests for more than a week and dovetailed with the nationwide 'No Kings' protests against a military parade in Washington. i love you guys stay safe out there ♬ original sound – nezz The parade coincided with President Donald J. Trump's birthday celebration in Washington, D.C., as well as the 250th birthday celebration for the United States Army. While Trump was running for his second term, he promised to 'carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.' 'I didn't think I'd be met with any sort of no,' Nezza said in the later video. 'Especially because we're in L.A., and with everything happening. I've sang the national anthem many times in my life, but today, out of all days, I could not. 'I just felt like I needed to do it. Para mi gente.' Nezza was not punished or kicked out of the ballpark after her unexpected rendition of the anthem and is not expected to be banned from Dodger Stadium going forward. The Dodgers did not have any comment when asked by The Athletic about the video, which she herself posted after the fact. The Dodgers themselves have not made any public statements over the past week of protests, unlike fellow Los Angeles-based franchises such as Angel City F.C., which handed out t-shirts that read 'Immigrant City Football Club'. Players also wore the shirts as a show of support for the protests. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about the protests on Friday, saying, 'Honestly, I don't know enough, to be quite honest with you. I know that when you're having to bring people in and deport people, all the unrest, it's certainly unsettling for everyone. But I haven't dug enough and can't speak intelligently on it.' Advertisement The lone player to speak on the issue has been utility man Kiké Hernández, who posted on Instagram on Saturday night, shortly before Nezza's anthem rendition, writing: 'I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as one of their own. I am saddened and infuriated by what's happening in our country and our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love. This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights. #CityOfImmigrants.'
Washington Post
19 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Trump's military parade, in photos and videos
President Donald Trump held a military parade through the streets of Washington to celebrate the Army's 250th anniversary on Saturday, which was also Trump's 79th birthday. The massive military parade drew tanks and thousands of soldiers and coincided with nationwide protests against Trump and his policies. The three-hour parade featured troops dressed in historical uniforms, bombers doing flyovers, and members of the Golden Knights parachute team falling from the sky. The parade was designed to compete with the grandeur of parades and other spectacles Trump has witnessed in foreign countries. 'We want to show off a little bit,' he said Tuesday. On the National Mall, there were displays of weaponry and other military equipment, and fitness competitions among soldiers, staged as part of the Army's 250th anniversary. Combat medics demonstrated how they treat injuries in conflict zones, and children waited in line to sit in attack helicopters and armored vehicles. Many attendees sported MAGA hats and other pro-Trump paraphernalia: J6 hats, a Trump 2028 banner, even a sign declaring Trump king — a stab at the numerous 'No Kings' rallies taking place across the country in opposition to what organizers see as Trump's widening authoritarianism. The parade also drew protesters of all ages, both local residents and visitors from across the country. Hundreds streamed down 14th Street on a march from Logan Circle to the White House. Amid a sea of MAGA hats or those that said 'Trump 2028,' a few lone protesters stood along 15th Street NW near the Washington Monument. Eric Slutz, 73, reached his arms up to hold a pink laminated paper that said 'NO KINGS.' 'This army that is marching by us was founded to fight a king,' he said, pointing to the military ranks rolling past on the street. 'And that's what we're doing 250 years later,' added his wife, Laurie Slutz, 71. But some attendees just wanted to enjoy the spectacle of the largest show of military might in the capital in more than three decades. 'We're celebrating 250 years of incredible service that guaranteed our freedom,' said Jeffrey Marquardt, 60, who drove from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to attend the Army festival and parade. June 14 marks the 250th anniversary of the Continental Congress vote to establish the Continental Army. Many attendees also celebrated Flag Day by wearing the U.S. flag on T-shirts, shorts, dresses, visors, cowboy hats and headbands. Overall, a total of 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft and 6,600 soldiers were expected during the parade. The cost for the massive event was estimated at $25 million to $45 million, an Army spokesperson said. The Army has vowed to foot the bill for any damage to city streets, with heavy tanks a particular concern. The military parade concluded as the procession of tanks reached Independence Avenue, where the tree foliage obscured their exit. The crowd gathered at the National Mall cheered as the event turned into a concert. Country singer Lee Greenwood performed his signature song 'God Bless the U.S.A.' as attendees followed the song with chants of 'U-S-A!' Vice President JD Vance took the stage, praised the Army and wished Trump a happy birthday, before noting it was also his wedding anniversary with Usha Vance. Trump took the stage last, joined by first lady Melania Trump, where he gave a speech thanking soldiers for their service and touting U.S. military prowess. 'Because our soldiers never give up, never surrender, and never, ever quit. They fight, fight, fight, and they win, win, win,' Trump said. At the end of the speech, a member of the Army Golden Knights presented Trump with the American flag, and a fireworks display over the National Mall closed out the festivities.
Atlantic
20 minutes ago
- Atlantic
Photos: A Military Parade in D.C.
Yesterday, the American public witnessed one of the most extravagant and unusual displays of patriotic pageantry in recent memory: an Army festival and military parade in the nation's capital. Nearly 7,000 soldiers, 28 Abrams tanks, 50 helicopters, 34 horses, two mules, and a single dog marched through a cloudy and drizzling Washington, D.C. The event, a celebration of the Army's 250th anniversary, also fell on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday—and took place against a backdrop of fierce immigration crackdowns and nationwide protests against the administration. While millions demonstrated across the country, crowds in the capital appeared lower than expected as thunderstorms threatened in the forecast.
