Donald Trump 'falls asleep' at military parade staged on his 79th birthday
President Donald Trump was spotted seemingly catching forty winks during a military parade this weekend.
Saturday was a momentous occasion for the US Commander-in-Chief, as he celebrated his 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the US Army.
The extended ceremony, designed to pay tribute to the military and its service members, seemed to have been a bit too lengthy for Trump, who looked to have grabbed a quick kip during the celebrations, reports The Mirror.
A snap circulating on X (previously known as Twitter) captures Trump seated with his eyes shut, seemingly dozing while the military procession continued. Critics didn't hesitate to flock to X to poke fun at the president nodding off during an event that also marked his own birthday bash.
"Trump seen falling asleep at his own birthday military parade," one user posted on the social media site.
"All the resources, tax money, and logistics to put on this ridiculous display, and he still isn't happy? #MAGA will claim that he just had to take a wicked s--t or something."
Another user ridiculed, "the most boring event of the year! #ParadeFail," while someone else jested, "it was past his bedtime". One user ribbed: "Trump at this military parade in DC like why the f- -k did I plan this event? Wake yo a- -up."
"This mutha sucka couldn't even stay awake at his empty birthday parade. Chile, bye! #DemUnited #NoKingsParade #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace," said another observer, with another posting: "Falling asleep again, on his Birthday. No this is not at Pope inauguration. The military parade that he desperately wanted, and Americans paid millions for... So disrespectful of the US Military. Disgrace."
The headlines weren't just about Trump's power nap; across the US, thousands of protests took place - under the banner "No Kings", with a website for the protests suggesting they were designed to rail against Trump's mass deportations, attacks on civil rights and slashing of services.
'The corruption has gone too far," a statement reads. "No thrones. No crowns. No kings."
Among the protests was a towering, eight-foot-tall effigy of Trump sat on a toilet, the handiwork of a No Kings Day protester by the name of Eunist.
Trump's speech was brief, scripted and largely apolitical. But as always with Trump, there were dogwhistles.
He said of the US Army: "They fight, fight, fight..." - as he shouted to the crowd after the attempt on his life in Pennsylvania last year.
And when he came onstage for the speech, the band struck up the patriotic song My Country 'tis of Thee - which shares a tune with God Save the King.
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