Trump's military parade was more of a kitsch day out than a dictator's display
S ome feared that Donald Trump's military parade would bring a touch of North Korea to the nation's capital. The sight of tanks rolling into the city in the same week the president deployed the troops to quell protests and delivered a deeply political speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg did little to alleviate those fears.
But when the day came, it was something closer to a medium-sized town's July 4th celebration. There were families, picnics, bad weather and small crowds.
There were no 20-foot missiles or long lines of intimidating military hardware. The sparse crowds that did turn out were instead treated to a history lesson about the U.S. Army to celebrate its 250th birthday (it also happened, by pure coincidence, to be Trump's 79th birthday).
Some people feared the Washington, D.C., military parade would feel like something from North Korea. Instead it felt like a July 4 event. (EPA)
As a regiment or unit would parade by, a voiceover told the crowd its history, and that same booming voice would intermittently follow up with a word for a sponsor.
'With thanks to our sponsor, Lockheed Martin,' the voice said after a touching tribute to the 1st Cavalry Division.
Next, the same voice thanked the crypto platform Coinbase.
Somewhere in the field behind, an energy drink company co-owned by Dana White, a friend of the president, was handing out free cans with the words 'screamin' freedom' on the front.
People watch a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary. The weather kept some of the crowd away from the event. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Visitors watch members of the military march by. The event coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday. (Getty Images)
The darker military parades that have become synonymous with tyrannical regimes around the world don't take breaks for corporate sponsors, nor do they sell pretzels, or have cooling tents.
As Trump's favorite crooner Lee Greenwood took to the stage at sundown to sing 'God Bless the U.S.A,' the event took on a feel closer to Las Vegas than Pyongyang. More kitsch than threatening.
But this event was more political than many Americans will be comfortable with. And even those who couldn't criticize the occasion doubted Trump's motives.
'This is the kind of thing that Stalin would have done. This is the kind of thing North Korea does. It sickens me that we're putting on this display just for one man's ego,' said Donna Stork, 73, who came from Hagerstown, Maryland, to protest.
'I have no problems with the Army having a celebration,' she said. 'What I do have a problem with is the implication that this is more about Trump and military might than it is about the 250th anniversary of people who fought and died for our country.'
Members of the U.S. Army participated in the 250th birthday parade - which featured messages from corporate sponsors. (Getty Images)
Trump and his wife, Melania, watch the fireworks that ended the parade. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Paul Scott, a Trump supporter who came from Dallas with his wife to watch the parade, did not appreciate the comparisons.
'You're a part of the tired media. We are exhausted with you,' he said. 'Go yell at everybody you want to yell at. We love hearing that you personally think that Donald Trump is North Korea's dictator. You're insane, not me.'
Tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery rumbled down Constitution Avenue, a rare sight in the U.S., which has rarely in modern history had to prove its military strength to anyone.
Trump's parade was planned long ago, but it happened to come at the end of an eventful week in which the president trampled norms and tested laws governing his control of the U.S. military.
He dispatched troops to Los Angeles to handle relatively minor protests and threatened to do the same to cities across the country. He gave a deeply politicized speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg, during which he criticized political opponents to the cheers of the enlisted behind him.
After all that, Saturday's parade seemed like a relatively tame use of the world's most powerful military force.
For many, though, especially veterans, it was a chance to pay tribute to their fallen comrades and to receive thanks for their own service.
'I retired from the Army 30 years ago and I came to honor all the people that came before me, all the friends that I've lost,' said Van Beal, 70, who first joined the Army in 1978, 'and just to be here because it's only going to be one 250th, so it's a wonderful opportunity.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
'Tears on the horizon' at CNN as insiders reveal stars on the chopping block after parent company's shock split
Warner Bros. Discovery's shock split into two distinctive companies is a sign the jobs and hefty salaries of CNN 's top talent are on the line, media insiders warn. The media giant announced last week it will halve into two publicly traded entities — Streaming & Studios and Global Networks — by mid-2026. Streaming & Studios' domain will be Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, and HBO Max. Global Networks, on the other hand, will be news focused, assuming CNN, TNT Sports and Discovery, among other programming. CEO David Zaslav will take on the leading role of the Streaming & Studios company, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will become the President of Global Networks. This dramatic move could be detrimental to CNN, which is already grappling with plummeting ratings. 'Inevitably, Gunnar will look at CNN and decide he can maintain relatively similar profits at a mere fraction of the cost,' Dylan Byers, a former CNN reporter who now works for Puck, wrote in an opinion piece. 'This will have perceptible ramifications on the talent side. Why, for instance, would Gunnar pay Anderson Cooper $18 million a year when Kaitlan Collins draws the same ratings at roughly a fifth of the salary?' An anonymous source familiar with the state of the left-leaning news network spoke with Fox News, reiterating there are 'tears on the horizon.' They believe 'bean counter' Wiedenfels will go after high-salaried stars, going against the precedent set by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker, who was forced out before the 2022 merger. 'It's not just the overpriced talent. It's the overpriced producers. The overpriced executives. The superfluous reporters who barely are on the air,' the source said. 'All will either be exited or forced to take massive pay cuts.' Zucker was allegedly known for overpaying talent to keep them loyal to him, Fox reported. The result - CNN's first and second-tier talent now earn roughly five times what they are worth, the insider alleged. While Cooper earns an estimated $18 million every year, Jake Tapper, who hosts The Lead with Jake Tapper, brings in roughly $7 million a year. CNN veteran Wolf Blitzer's salary is about $15 million and Chris Wallace's is approximately $8 million. Collins earns about $3 million as a primetime anchor. In May, CNN had its second-worst month in its history in the essential 25 to 54-year-old age group in both daytime and primetime viewership, Fox reported. Since last year, the network ratings declined in all categories - and the matter may only get worse, experts believe. Over the upcoming year, Kagan, a research unit of S&P Global Market Intelligence, estimated CNN will lose subscribers and revenue despite the strategic split. Revenue is expected to plummet by $499.2 million, Variety reported. The insider source said the soon-to-be Global Networks CEO could slash CNN's costs by 50 to 60 percent with no impact on revenue or ratings. They believe Wiedenfels could 'start by making 70 percent cuts to all show teams for CNN US, bringing their staffing in line with that of their competition,' before slashing talent salaries. 'But it will be most devastating for the rank and file. With no union protections, there will be massive layoffs and those remaining will be asked to do the work of their departed colleagues,' they explained. Although no layoffs or budget cuts have been set in stone, uncertainty looms among CNN staffers. Byers told Fox he has 'received a deluge of text messages from addled employees at CNN' asking what the WBD split means for their futures. Despite skepticism, WBD higher-ups believe dividing into two companies is the best possible move. 'By operating as two distinct and optimized companies in the future, we are empowering these iconic brands with the sharper focus and strategic flexibility they need to compete most effectively in today's evolving media landscape,' Zaslav said. Wiedenfels agreed this is a strategic move that will strength the 'specific financial profiles' of each company. 'At Global Networks, we will focus on further identifying innovative ways to work with distribution partners to create value for both linear and streaming viewers globally while maximizing our network assets and driving free cash flow,' he asserted.
The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say
The man charged with killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another in what prosecutors have described as a meticulously planned attack, had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states. Vance Boelter allegedly made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was on vacation and the suspect left the other house after police arrived, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Monday. All of the politicians named in his writing were Democrats, including more than 45 state and federal officials in Minnesota, Thompson said. Elected leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin said they, too, were mentioned in his writings. Investigators say Boelter appeared to spend months preparing for the shootings — the latest in a string of political attacks across the U.S. In Minnesota, Boelter carried out surveillance missions, took notes on the homes and people he targeted, and disguised himself as a police officer just before the shootings, Thompson said. 'It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,' he said. Boelter surrendered to police Sunday night after they found him in the woods near his home after a massive two-day search. He is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Authorities say he also shot and wounded Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, who lived a few miles away. Federal prosecutors charged Boelter, 57, with murder and stalking, which could result in a death sentence if convicted. He already faces state charges, including murder and attempted murder. At a federal court hearing Monday in St. Paul, Boelter said he could not afford an attorney. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him, and he was being held without bail pending a court appearance next week. Manny Atwal, his lead attorney, declined to comment, saying the office just got the case. Notebooks show careful planning Boelter had many notebooks full of plans, Thompson said. Underscoring what law enforcement officials said was the premeditated nature of the attacks, one notebook contained a list of internet-based people search engines, according to court records. But authorities have not found any writings that would 'clearly identify what motivated him,' Thompson said. He said it was also too soon to speculate on any sort of political ideology. Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje, whose district includes parts of Minneapolis, said she stayed with friends and family over the weekend after learning that her name appeared on the list of targets. In texts, the suspect said he 'went to war' Authorities declined to reveal the names of the other two lawmakers whose homes were targeted but escaped harm. Democratic Sen. Ann Rest said she was told the suspect parked near her home early Saturday. She said in a statement that the 'quick action' of law enforcement officers saved her life. Boelter sent a text to a family group chat after the shootings that said: 'Dad went to war last night ... I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody,' according to an FBI affidavit. His wife got another text that said: 'Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation ... there's gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don't want you guys around,' the affidavit said. Police later found his wife in a car with her children. Officers found two handguns, about $10,000 in cash and passports for the wife and her children, according to the affidavit. Just hours after the shootings Saturday, Boelter bought an electric bike and a Buick sedan from someone he met at a bus stop in Minneapolis, the federal affidavit said. Police found the sedan abandoned on a highway Sunday morning. In the car, officers found a cowboy hat Boelter had been seen wearing in surveillance footage as well as a letter written to the FBI, authorities said. The letter said it was written by 'Dr. Vance Luther Boulter' and he was 'the shooter at large." The car was found in rural Sibley County, where Boelter owned a home. Coordinated attacks on legislators The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champlin. Their adult daughter called 911 to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents. Boelter had shown up carrying a flashlight and a 9 mm handgun and wearing a black tactical vest and a 'hyper-realistic' silicone mask, Thompson said. He first knocked and shouted: 'This is police.' At one point, the Hoffmans realized he was wearing a mask and Boelter told them 'this is a robbery.' After Sen. Hoffman tried to push Boelter out the door, Boelter shot him repeatedly and then shot his wife, the prosecutor said. A statement released Sunday by Yvette Hoffman said her husband underwent several surgeries after being hit by nine bullets. After hearing about a lawmaker being shot, officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, according to the complaint. They exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled into the home before escaping, the complaint said. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, according to the document. Their dog also was shot and had to be euthanized. Search for motive continues Writings recovered from the fake police vehicle included the names of lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, said two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. Friends and former colleagues interviewed by the AP describe Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Boelter also is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if they knew each other. ___ Durkin Richer reported from Washington and Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker and Eric Tucker in Washington, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.
The Guardian
42 minutes ago
- The Guardian
My unexpected Pride icon: they were not cool, but bands like Mumford & Sons eased the turmoil of coming out
I am coming out again, this time as a lover of stomp and clap music. This will probably get me in trouble with my mother in a way that coming out as bisexual never did, because she believed that you should always be your authentic self, so long as you have good taste. Stomp clap music has often been the subject of much derision and a bit of a punchline. But despite the ridicule, I'm willing to defend my taste. The genre, sometimes referred to as stomp and holler or indie folk, peaked in the 2000s, with bands such as the Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men and, of course, Mumford & Sons – think a lot of guitars, banjos, the odd fiddle, literal stomping and clapping, with the occasional rousing 'hey!' in the background. It was largely associated with hipsters – the twirly moustached, braces and Henley-shirt-wearing kind – and with band members who all look like Sunday school preachers and youth pastors. I can't stand the aesthetic, but the music is undeniable. So how did a black queer woman – raised on jazz and soul – end up loving these bands? Mostly through a lot of late nights on Tumblr – the mainstay of any teenager figuring themselves out in the 2010s. I was obsessed with the Norwegian teen drama Skam and all its various iterations and adaptations. It's an obsession that led me to Tumblr, where there were tonnes of fan edits (short video tributes to the show's couples and characters), all set to an endless stream of stomp and clap such as the Lumineers' Ophelia or King and Lionheart by Of Monsters And Men. Though my music taste wasn't limited, it definitely wasn't cool (whatever that means). As my love for the genre grew, my friends, a small group of queer kids at a Catholic school, were very much live and let live with my choices – we were already on the outskirts anyway. It was never exactly something to bust out at a group sesh, though. I think the closest I could get was Ed Sheeran's Nancy Mulligan, which we could all agree was good 'straight white' music. Now 23, I am (nearly) past that phase, but at the time the music was always a comfort to me, as I wrestled with coming out. Against the joyful twang of the banjo, the music was melancholy, but never devastating – a contrast to the turmoil I felt inside. There was longing and regret and unrequited love, but also hope after heartbreak. Songs such as Cleopatra by the Lumineers spoke to the lifelong regret of not telling someone you love them out of fear. Others, such as The Night We Met by Lord Huron, portrayed the first intense heartache you feel after drifting out of a relationship, something that spoke to me as I drifted home, aged 16, after kissing a girl for the first time – not able yet to talk about it, music was my solace. My love for these bands (with the exception of Mumford & Sons, you know what you did) was as much about the self-discovery as it was the music. Growing up, I loved emo indie bands because my friends put me on to them, while jazz and soul were a part of my upbringing. My violin lessons are why you will find Beethoven next to Cowboy Carter on my playlists. But indie folk was all mine, music discovered in an online community almost as an antidote to the catholic guilt and self-loathing I was battling through. So for me stomp and clap was the soundtrack of my coming out and I'm willing to make the case for its inclusion on all Pride playlists this year. (Hear me out: fiddles at Pride!)
