logo
Sparse Attendance, Confusion and Disorganization: Dismal Scenes From Trump's Military Parade

Sparse Attendance, Confusion and Disorganization: Dismal Scenes From Trump's Military Parade

Yahoo14 hours ago

Donald Trump threw a military parade in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on Saturday, June 14 (a date that happens to be the president's birthday) to the tune of $25 to $45 million. But unfortunately for Trump, photos and videos from the big day show sparse attendance and a lack of organization from top to bottom.
I just got back from the Trump parade and I have to say it was legitimately the worst executed mass attendance event I've ever seen One overarching thought: how do you spend $80 million and fumble the basics?Many more thoughts –
pic.twitter.com/e9O9dc1qPx
— Doug Landry (@dougblandry) June 15, 2025
50 Thirteen founder Doug Landry shared a series of tweets that documented many issues with the parade Saturday. Landry described the event as 'legitimately the worst executed mass attendance event I've ever seen' before sharing photos of a sparsely populated Washington Mall, the single checkpoint to which approximately 15,000 people were sent, maps that failed to offer clear direction, dozens of empty checkpoints, and empty VIP bleachers.
Those scenes were replicated by HuffPost deputy editor Phil Lewis, who shared his own photos on BlueSky.
YouTube Brian Tyler Cohen slammed the event on the same platform.
'Donald Trump does NOT want you to share this footage of his pathetically tiny birthday parade crowd,' he captioned a video of attendees.
Trump shared a portion of his speech from the event on Truth Social, as well as an uncharacteristically brief summation of the day: 'What a GREAT Parade. THANK YOU, ARMY!'
The parade prompted several 'No Kings' rallies and protests held on the same day across the United States.
The post Sparse Attendance, Confusion and Disorganization: Dismal Scenes From Trump's Military Parade appeared first on TheWrap.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why government's AI dreams keep turning into digital nightmares—and how to fix that
Why government's AI dreams keep turning into digital nightmares—and how to fix that

Fast Company

timean hour ago

  • Fast Company

Why government's AI dreams keep turning into digital nightmares—and how to fix that

Government leaders worldwide are talking big about AI transformation. In the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., officials are pushing for AI-first agencies that will revolutionize public services. The vision is compelling: streamlined operations, enhanced citizen services, and unprecedented efficiency gains. But here's the uncomfortable truth—most government AI projects are destined to fail spectacularly. The numbers tell a sobering story. A recent McKinsey analysis of nearly 3,000 public sector IT projects found that over 80% exceeded their timelines, with nearly half blowing past their budgets. The average cost overrun hit 108%, or three times worse than private sector projects. These aren't just spreadsheet problems; they're systemic failures that erode public trust and waste taxpayer dollars. When AI projects go wrong in government, the consequences extend far beyond budget overruns. Arkansas's Department of Human Services faced legal challenges when its automated disability care system caused 'irreparable harm' to vulnerable citizens. The Dutch government collapsed in 2021 after an AI system falsely accused thousands of families of welfare fraud. These aren't edge cases—they're warnings about what happens when complex AI systems meet unprepared institutions. The Maturity Trap The core problem isn't AI technology itself—it's the mismatch between ambitious goals and organizational readiness. Government agencies consistently attempt AI implementations that far exceed their technological maturity, like trying to run a marathon without first learning to walk. Our research across 500 publicly traded companies for a previous book revealed a clear pattern: organizations that implement technologies appropriate to their maturity level achieve significant efficiency gains, while those that overreach typically fail. Combining this insight with our practical work implementing digital solutions in the public sector led to the development of a five-stage AI maturity model specifically designed for government agencies. Stage 1: Initial/Ad Hoc. Organizations at this stage operate with isolated AI experiments and no systematic strategy. Stage 2: Developing/Reactive. Agencies begin showing basic capabilities, typically through simple chatbots or vendor-supplied solutions. Stage 3: Defined/Proactive. Organizations develop comprehensive AI strategies aligned with strategic goals. Stage 4: Managed/Integrated. Agencies achieve full operational integration of AI with quantitative performance measures. Stage 5: Optimized/Innovative. Organizations reach full agility and influence how others use AI. Most government agencies today operate at stages 1 or 2, but AI-first initiatives require stage 4 or 5 maturity. This fundamental mismatch explains why so many initiatives fail. Without the right cultural frameworks, technological expertise, and technical infrastructure, organization-wide transformation based around AI capabilities stand little chance of success. Start Where You Are, Not Where You Want to Be The path to AI success begins with brutal honesty about current capabilities. A national security agency we studied exemplifies this approach. Despite seeing enormous opportunities in large language models, they recognized serious risks around data drift, model drift, and information security. Rather than rushing into advanced implementations, they are pursuing incremental development grounded in institutional knowledge and cultural readiness. This measured approach doesn't mean abandoning ambitious goals—it means building toward them systematically. Organizations must select projects that are appropriate to their maturity level while ensuring each initiative serves dual purposes: delivering immediate value and advancing foundational capabilities for future growth. Three Immediate Opportunities For agencies at early maturity stages, three implementation areas offer immediate value creation opportunities while building toward transformation: 1. Information Technology Operations IT represents the most accessible entry point for government AI adoption. The private sector offers a road map — 88% of companies now leverage AI in IT service management, with 70% implementing structured automation operations by 2025, up from 20% in 2021. AI can transform government IT through chatbots handling common user issues, intelligent anomaly detection identifying network problems in real-time, and dynamic resource optimization automatically adjusting allocations during peak periods. These capabilities deliver immediate efficiency gains while building the technical expertise and collaborative patterns needed for higher maturity levels. The challenge lies in government's unique constraints. Stringent security requirements along with legacy systems at agencies like Social Security and NASA create implementation hurdles that private sector organizations rarely face. Success requires careful navigation of these constraints while building foundational capabilities. 2. Predictive Analytics Predictive analytics represents perhaps the highest-value opportunity for early-stage agencies. Government organizations possess vast data resources, complex operational environments, and urgent needs for better decision-making—perfect conditions for predictive AI success. The U.S. military is already demonstrating this potential, using predictive modeling for command and control simulators and live battlefield decision-making. The Department of Veterans Affairs has trialed suicide prevention programs using risk prediction algorithms to identify veterans needing intervention. Beyond specialized applications, predictive analytics can improve incident management, enable predictive maintenance, and forecast resource needs across virtually any government function. These implementations advance AI maturity by building essential data management practices and analytical capabilities while delivering immediate operational benefits. Unlike complex generative AI systems, predictive analytics can be implemented successfully at any maturity stage using well-established machine learning techniques. 3. Cybersecurity Enhancement Cybersecurity offers critical immediate value, with AI applications spanning digital and physical protection domains. Modern AI security platforms process vast amounts of data across networks, endpoints, and physical spaces to identify threats that traditional systems miss—a capability that is particularly valuable given increasing attack sophistication. Current implementations demonstrate proven value. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Automated Indicator Sharing program enables real-time threat intelligence exchange. U.S. Customs and Border Protection deploys AI-enabled autonomous surveillance towers for border situational awareness. The Transportation Security Administration uses AI-driven facial recognition for streamlined security screening. While national security agencies implement the most advanced applications, these capabilities offer immediate value for all government entities with security responsibilities, from facility protection to data privacy assurance. Building Systematic Success Creating sustainable AI capabilities requires following five key principles: Build on existing foundations. Leverage current processes and infrastructure while controlling implementation risks rather than starting from scratch. Develop mission-driven capabilities. Create implementation teams that mix technological and operational expertise to ensure AI solutions address real operational needs rather than pursuing technology for its own sake. Prioritize data quality and governance. AI systems only perform as well as their underlying data. Implementing robust data management practices, establishing clear ownership, and ensuring accuracy are essential prerequisites for success. Learn through limited trials. Choose use cases where failure won't disrupt critical operations, creating space for learning and adjustment without catastrophic consequences. Scale what works. Document implementation lessons and use early wins to build organizational support, creating momentum for broader transformation. The Path Forward Government agencies don't need to choose between ambitious AI goals and practical implementation. The key is recognizing that most transformation happens through systematic progression. While 'strategic leapfrogging' is possible in some situations, it is the exception rather than the norm. By starting with appropriate projects, building foundational capabilities, and scaling successes, agencies can begin realizing concrete AI benefits today while developing toward their longer-term transformation vision. The stakes are too high for continued failure. With 48% of Americans already distrusting AI development and 77% wanting regulation, government agencies must demonstrate that AI can deliver responsible, effective, and efficient outcomes. Success requires abandoning the fantasy of overnight transformation in favor of disciplined, systematic implementation that builds lasting capabilities. The future of government services may indeed be AI-first, but getting there requires being reality-first about where agencies stand today and what it takes to build toward tomorrow. (This article draws on the cross-disciplinary expertise and applied research of Faisal Hoque, Erik Nelson, Professor Thomas Davenport, Dr. Paul Scade, Albert Lulushi, and Dr. Pranay Sanklecha.)

Trump endorses House freshman for reelection less than six months into the lawmaker's congressional tenure
Trump endorses House freshman for reelection less than six months into the lawmaker's congressional tenure

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

Trump endorses House freshman for reelection less than six months into the lawmaker's congressional tenure

President Donald Trump issued a full-throated endorsement of Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., backing the lawmaker for re-election less than half a year into the freshman House member's first term in office. "Abe Hamadeh has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" the president declared in a Truth Social post in which he described the congressman as "an America First Patriot." Trump endorsed Hamadeh in December 2023, ahead of the 2024 GOP U.S. House primary in Arizona's 8th Congressional District. But then later he issued an unusual dual endorsement of both Hamadeh and another GOP primary candidate, Blake Masters, just ahead of the 2024 contest that Hamadeh ultimately won. Back in February Hamadeh introduced a resolution to limit the types of flags that may be displayed in House facilities, though the text of the proposal stipulates that it would not "apply to the individual personal office space of a Member of the House of Representatives." The resolution would allow for displaying the American flag and various other kinds of flags, some of which would include "The State flag of the represented district of a Member of the House of Representatives, displayed adjacent to the office of such Member" and "The flags of visiting foreign dignitaries during an official visit." "Congress is supposed to embody the AMERICAN people. That's why I've introduced a resolution to ban foreign and ideological flags in the Halls of Congress. It's pathetic that I even have to introduce this resolution," Hamadeh declared in a tweet this month. Six other House Republicans are listed as cosponsors on including three original cosponsors and three other lawmakers listed as backing the measure this month. "You have inspired me and so many other young men and women to fearlessly serve our country in our nation's Armed Services and the halls of Congress," Hamadeh wrote in a June 14 letter to Trump marking the president's 79th birthday and the Army's 250th.

Uniqlo Is Back With Another Hit—This Time, It's a Jacket
Uniqlo Is Back With Another Hit—This Time, It's a Jacket

Vogue

timean hour ago

  • Vogue

Uniqlo Is Back With Another Hit—This Time, It's a Jacket

There's something uniquely elegant about a sporty jacket with a stand collar or funnel neck zipped right to the top, with material slightly shrouding the chin. It looks especially nonchalant when the wearer's hair is tucked in–a Phoebe Philo-ism that adds mystique to the enveloping silhouette. While this neckline (and hair tuck) has been popularised on the runway, Uniqlo's windproof blouson–a new style that's already generating hype–serves as proof that this cut can be well executed at a more affordable price point. Made from a breeze-preventing shell, the jacket features a stand collar that echoes those that are currently trending among the luxury houses, with a drawstring on the hemline to create a closer fit on the hips, angled side pockets and a hood that doubles up as padding for the collar when it's stowed away. At first glance, it resembles a humble weatherproof jacket you would wear to a festival or for classic outdoorsy activities, but I think that it's actually better suited to city wear. If you pull the drawstrings in around the waist and adjust the collar, it's a world away from your standard pac-a-mac. And unlike its designer counterparts, it's under $50. Vogue Shopping producer, Mia Portet, wearing the jacket with coordinating trousers. Mia Portet Erica Wright, founder of Sourcewear, in her Uniqlo jacket. Courtesy of Erica Wright Founder of Sourcewhere, Erica Wright, has created a business centered around tracking down coveted designer pieces for clients, such as one-of-a-kind Birkins, Cartier Tank watches, Alaïa flats and Old Céline, but she won't overlook an excellent high-street purchase. Erica immediately fell for the charm of the Uniqlo blouson while on a trip to Asia earlier this year. 'I'd gone in for a T-shirt, and this technical jacket caught my eye,' she tells Vogue of her chance discovery. 'The proportions are precise, and there's a clarity to the design–it has structure, but it moves easily. It feels put together, but not overworked. There's a quiet kind of luxury when you style something considered, yet accessible, alongside a beautifully-made piece, such as a pair of shoes from The Row or a bag from Jil Sander–the result feels more elevated, more assured.' The jacket is cropped but has an oversized fit on the arms and chest, so I'd recommend staying true to size–I wore an XS (my usual size), which was perfect. If you want an even slouchier appearance or to have extra room for layers to maximize its usage beyond the warmer months, then try the men's style. It is longer at the hemline, with the addition of large, parka-esque pockets on the front. Shop more cult buys from Uniqlo:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store