Latest news with #ConstitutionAvenue
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Thoughts On Humble Leadership
TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (C) stands and salutes, flanked by US Secretary of Defense Pete ... More Hegseth and US First Lady Melania Trump, as they watch the Army 250th Anniversary Parade from the Ellipse in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army which also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) I'm supposed to write on (among other things) leadership. Well, now, the events of this past weekend – Donald Trump's military parade that just so happened to coincide with his birthday, and the many hundreds of 'No Kings' protests in all 50 states and in large cities and small towns – made this an easy assignment. Rather than report this as news – there was plenty of real time reporting going on – I decided to reflect for a couple of days. Here's the result. The massive bill of $45 million or more paid for a big bust of a parade and – let's call it what it was – a very poorly attended birthday party. Black Hawk helicopters, Howitzers, and other heavy-duty war machinery were quite the attention getters on Constitution Avenue, which is usually choked by traffic jams of tour buses and private cars. Three dozen or so horses and 30 Abrams tanks showed us how well-prepared we are for World War I. And nearly 7,000 soldiers marching less energetically and with less precision than my junior high school marching band demonstrated what my best friend's son pointed out, that a lot of soldiers would have chosen another activity for their Saturday evening. And there stood our president, saluting, All this in front of a crowd of far less than the 200,000 predicted by the administration while, at the same time, 5,000,000 or more Americans all over this great land were showing the vision, commitment, and willingness to get their point across: No Kings. Reporting aside, the question loomed: What do we make of all this? The answer is in the form of another question. What would a leader more humble than Donald Trump have said or done? And from teaching graduate leadership courses for 15 years at Fairleigh Dickinson University, I offer a few suggestions. In the shortest inaugural ever given, Washington was more humble than usual. 'I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America. 'Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.' That's it. Then he sat down, let the ceremony proceed, and set to the task of continuing to run this country, a power he willingly yielded four years later, despite widespread public support to stay. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less." 'Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.' Confucius (born 551 B.C.) is considered the world's first professional teacher. 'Whatever you do may seem insignificant. But it is very important that you do it.' The Mahatma led the largest rebellion in human history. 'People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.' 'Live your life, do your work, take your hat.'
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CNA
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Commentary: From Trump's parade to ‘No Kings' protests, the clash over what makes America great has only just begun
SINGAPORE: Two versions of American patriotism were on full display this weekend: a military-based message of might, and a grassroots-based outpouring of will. But the jury is still out over which version will triumph as the people and the Trump administration seek to define what makes America great. On Saturday (Jun 14), more than 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles and 50 aircraft paraded down Constitution Avenue in the heart of the American capital to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. It was also President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Across the rest of the country, millions of 'No Kings' protesters demonstrated against the Trump administration's policies and alleged abuses of power. While the parade and protests did not physically meet, they are part of a larger struggle to define American patriotism. DONALD TRUMP FINALLY GOT HIS BIG PARADE Since the end of World War II, military parades have been rare, but not unheard of in American history. The US did not hold national or major city parades after the Korean and Vietnam wars, though an 8,000-troop-strong victory parade rolled down Constitution Avenue after the Gulf War of 1991. One would have to go back even further to the 1950s and 1960s to find a military parade for a US president. Dwight Eisenhower and John F Kennedy featured military segments in their inauguration parades, but no modern president has repeated this display. Many observers borrow Mr Eisenhower's thoughts to explain this: Having the US military imitate Soviet parades makes it look weak. Mr Trump, however, would beg to differ. His desire for a military parade began during his first administration, especially after he witnessed the Bastille Day parade in July 2017, calling it a 'tremendous thing for France and for the spirit of France' and suggested that he would 'try and top it'. In May, he expressed irritation that France and Russia were commemorating the end of World War II with elaborate celebrations while America was not. As he told the crowd after the parade in Washington DC: 'Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time that America did, too.' A DIFFERENT VERSION OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM Meanwhile, the 'No Kings' protests presented a different version of American patriotism – not about the conflicts its military has won but the systems and way of life it has protected, not about enforcing the law at all costs but upholding America's system of checks and balances. Hence, the name 'No Kings': Protesters criticise Mr Trump's actions as overstepping the limits of a democratically elected president and more akin to a king. It is difficult to ignore that the parade coincided with Mr Trump's birthday, conflating his leadership with military strength. At least one veterans group turned down invitation to the official reviewing stand because they were uncomfortable with the political implications of the parade. There is also a question of cost at a time of US government-funded programmes and federal jobs cuts. According to an AP-NORC poll, 60 per cent of Americans believed the parade was not a good use of government funds. Mr Trump's initial plans for a military parade in 2018 were frustrated by hesitant aides and a massive US$92 million price tag. This year, it was estimated to cost up to US$45 million. More broadly, the parade took place amid growing protests against immigration crackdowns in Democrat-run cities. Mr Trump ostensibly wanted to pit an image of power, order and stability against 'lawless riots'. This is especially since the epicentre of recent protests is California, whose governor Gavin Newsom, has locked horns with Mr Trump and is reportedly positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run. BUILDING UP TO A BIGGER POLITICAL CLASH If Mr Trump wanted a spectacle, he certainly received one. In Washington, the parade rolled out despite threatening weather conditions, with generations of American military hardware from P-51 Mustangs to Abrams tanks proudly featured. Yet, attendance for the parade appeared to be far below the 200,000 expected guests. Recordings that emerged from the parade were also less-than-flattering, from the squeak of threads from old Sherman tanks to soldiers awkwardly holding up drones as they marched. In comparison, millions of protesters were estimated to have attended No Kings protests in all 50 states. If true, that would make it the largest single-day protest in American history, far bigger than the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests which peaked at 500,000 people. Granted, attendance at political events does not equate to electoral support. Mr Trump won the popular vote just eight months ago, after all, despite months of sold-out rallies for then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Outrage over the immigration crackdown and other measures might fade by the midterm elections in 2026, let alone 2028. However, it is clear that popular resistance to Mr Trump has returned at an unprecedented scale and level of coordination. It is likely that the political clash between the protesters and the administration has only just begun.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump celebrates US military might amid tensions at home and abroad
President Donald Trump on Saturday celebrated his birthday at the massive military parade he's dreamed of for eight years. It was a fête befitting of the approach Trump has taken as commander-in-chief, using military iconography to telegraph strength to opponents, foreign and domestic. 'Time and again America's enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you,' Trump said. 'Your defeat will be certain. Your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete.' His speech, which focused on lauding the Army's history, was a more disciplined and marked departure from the more campaign rally-like events Trump presided over in recent weeks at Fort Bragg and West Point. Still, across the nation, hundreds of thousands saw Saturday's events in the nation's capital in a more ominous light, marching in 'No Kings' protests aimed at highlighting the ways in which demonstrators argue Trump has acted more like a dictator than a president. But in Washington it was mostly calm. At the parade, people in MAGA gear and Army veteran garb looked on as soldiers in modern-day and historical uniforms, tanks, drones and other military vehicles — even a robotic dog — paraded down Constitution Avenue. Trump and other top officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were stationed at a viewing stand near the end of the parade route. Attack helicopters and historic military planes soared overhead at points during the parade. Still, Trump has moved the country away from its decadeslong role of global policeman. But recent incidents are testing whether that approach can hold, with Israel and Iran trading strikes since Thursday night — and no clear plan for a ceasefire to the war between Russia and Ukraine. 'Tonight, we affirm with unwavering certainty that in the years ahead ... the American soldier will be there,' Trump said, without mentioning any ongoing conflicts. 'No matter the risk, no matter the obstacles, our warriors will charge into battle.' The president's remarks capped a daylong celebration of the Army's 250th birthday — which also included the parade and a fireworks show. Saturday also happened to be Trump's 79th birthday — with attendees at one point singing him 'Happy Birthday' along the parade route. It was the display of military might Trump has long wanted — especially after he accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to a 2017 Bastille Day parade where troops marched down the Champs-Élysées and military jets left trails of red, white, and blue smoke. Though officials looked into the possibility during his first term, aides advised him against following through on those plans. Critics questioned the cost in the run-up to the event — which Army officials have said will be between $25 million and $50 million — and slammed it as an unnecessary and authoritarian show of force. In addition to France, China, Russia and North Korea also routinely hold military parades. Several dozen GOP lawmakers also told POLITICO this week they planned to skip the parade. 'I wouldn't have done it,' Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told NBC News this week. ' I'm not sure what the actual expense of it is, but I'm not really, you know, we were always different than, you know, the images you saw in the Soviet Union and North Korea. We were proud not to be that.' Plans for the Army's birthday celebration were in the works well before Trump won the 2024 election, but they took on new life under his administration. Before the parade, thousands of people — mostly families — milled around the National Mall where the Army positioned artillery, armored vehicles and other hardware for the public to admire and stand beside for photos. It was more like a July 4th celebration or county fair than the prelude to the largest military parade Washington has seen in decades. Any protests or dissent felt remote as the crowd — some wearing hats and t-shirts proclaiming their veteran status — ambled in the heat between helicopters and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. It was a far cry from scenes in Los Angeles where police used flash bangs and tear gas to disperse crowds protesting federal immigration raids. And it comes amid a tense political climate after two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot, and one of them killed, early Saturday morning. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz described the shootings — which also claimed the life of one of the lawmaker's spouses — as a 'politically motivated assassination.' The attacks rattled political leaders in both parties and left them calling for a deescalation of political rhetoric. Minnesota's congressional delegation — including Republican Rep. Tom Emmer, the House GOP whip, and Democratic Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar — put out a joint statement condemning the attack. 'Today we speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants,' they is no place in our democracy for politically-motivated violence.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's Military Parade Was a Pathetic Event for a Pathetic President
Three dozen horses, 28 Abrams tanks, 6,700 soldiers, and millions of taxpayer dollars later, and Donald Trump's military birthday parade was still a flop at best. A crowd that was well under the administration's projected 200,000 peppered the National Mall Saturday in a festival style event featuring Army info sessions, military fitness challenges, weapons exhibits, and other activities prior to the parade on Saturday. Military members spoke on stage the entire time to a sparse audience, as most of the attendees perused the various offerings, hoisting their children up into the massive tanks and turrets sitting on the mall for pictures. There was a sense of giddy satisfaction in the air as the parade's 6:00 p.m. start time approached. It was the same feeling I noticed during inauguration weekend: A crowd that felt victorious and vindicated, and knew it was among friends. People rushed to the front of the route as the parade began and expressed genuine awe and joy as Blackhawk helicopters, Howitzers, and other heavy duty war machinery trudged down Constitution Avenue. But the parade itself was quite boring, save for those few movements. It was generally very quiet—so quiet you could clearly hear the creaks and squeaks of the armored vehicles— with intermittent music that was constantly being lowered so that the parade narrator could announce each battalion. Weak chants of 'USA, USA' popped up every 10 minutes or so. And the majority of the parade was just soldiers walking by—not even marching in step with each other—in military garb from wars past. Children grew weary in the humidity, as did some adults. One man wearing an shirt kept yelling 'bring out the tanks!!' and complained that 'people got no energy out here.' Another started scrolling on TikTok. There were large cheers for West Point and some confused murmurs for the Boston Dynamics robot dogs. The event didn't truly begin to feel electric until the parade ended and Trump and JD Vance spoke. Crowds of people hurried to the other side of the mall to catch just a glimpse of Trump as he spoke behind a humongous piece of glass hundreds of yards away for about seven minutes. The finale featured massive fireworks and more music, as people linked arms and swayed while they sang 'I'm Proud to Be an American.' 'No exaggeration.... This is the most patriotic I've ever seen America,' said Malik Meeks, a 20-year-old man who stood alone screaming 'AMERICAAA' into the night sky while the fireworks went off. He is currently attempting to join the Air Force. Many of the attendees felt that this parade was necessary because the military had been disrespected, weakened, and kneecapped by 'the left.' They believed that a show of force and pride could directly remedy that, cost and optics be damned. 'I think there's a gigantic disconnect between the American populace and the military. The military has turned into a culture of warriors. It's like a family thing now, right?' said Brandon, a 24-year retired Army veteran from Pennsylvania who didn't want to give his last name. Brandon was actually at the last military parade of this stature, the Gulf War victory parade in the summer of 1991. 'People walking down the street will say, 'Thank you for your service,' but … they won't suggest it to their teenage children or the people in their lives.' This perceived disconnect from the civilian public is exactly why Brandon felt the parade was important. 'I don't think [civilians] really quite understand what it takes or what goes into it. [They think] it's for someone else. 'It's not for me.' Someone else's child, someone else's spouse, someone else's parent.... This is obviously a large kind of national event. But even having a National Guard display at a local carnival, I think helps to bring greater connection between the public and those who serve.' Air Force member Carlton Guthrie, 22, who was there with his wife Whitney, told me that the tense political moment, particularly in the Middle East, called for a display such as this. 'I think now is a scarier time than people think it is, just because we're not really deployed as much as we used to be in the Middle East. It's probably one of the scariest times in our country's history where we have a bunch of people who hate us. So I think it's a good time to show that we aren't weak, because there's lots of propaganda saying that the army's weak, or the military is getting soft.' Guthrie also felt that Trump's military support of Israel's bombing of Iran was warranted given that 'they chant Death to America in the streets of Iran. They don't do that on the streets of Israel.... I think if Iran were left there to keep doing what they're doing, it'll just keep growing until it gets to us anyway.' Justin Walz, who brought his wife and three young children from Farmville, Virginia, to the parade for Father's Day weekend, told me that Trump's parade sent a positive signal to young American men, many of whom he thinks are lost. 'These young boys are looking for a father figure. And currently, there really are no father figures, a lot of fatherless homes,' he said. 'And that's the reason Trump has gained so much popularity in the younger community.' Several QAnon TikTok influencers were also among the paltry crowd. Judy Alston of Delaware was a proud January 6er, sharing that her son-in-law even called the FBI on her for attending the 2021 insurrection. She went back the very next year. They all gave the usual QAnon spiel—all of our elected officials are sex-trafficking pedophiles, Hillary Clinton drinks kids' blood to stay young, and Trump is somehow the only one brave enough to expose them. They told me that the parade wasn't just a show of force, it was a 'mask off' event that would bring an end to the '250 years of disrespect' that the military has faced. One of them wore a 'King Trump' shirt, while the other had a Pepe the frog necklace. One gifted me a small book by Loy Brunson about why socialism was an 'existential threat' and told me to save it for my future children. Each Trump supporter justified the parade's hefty price tag by bringing up 'illegals taking American jobs' or 'all the other stupid stuff we pay for.' One man chalked the critique up to simple 'radical left nonsense,' and was surprised when I told him that libertarian Senator Rand Paul had levied that same critique. The embarrassingly low turnout was exacerbated by the fact that not everyone was there to support Trump. Two veterans in attendance made it clear that they were separating the military's birthday from Trump's birthday, as they disapproved of the president but felt an obligation to the Army to be there. One older veteran named Al told me he thought Trump wasn't 'thinking before he moved.' Many protesters (and even some 'neutral' attendees) emphasized that they wanted to reclaim and redefine patriotism. They weren't anti-military in the slightest, but they were against the way MAGA now feels synonymous with the armed forces. 'A huge reason why we're here is because Trump doesn't own patriotism in this country, and I don't think we should let him,' said Eric Whitman, 42, of Washington, D.C.. 'I think it's important for every American regardless of what party you're in or who you voted for to come and support the military.... I think we're taking a horrible turn right now in light of the administration's policies, but we're still American.' Partners Jordan and Isabel, both in their 30s, were walking around the grounds with signs that read 'Nobody paid me to be here, I protest for free' and 'Happy 250th birthday Army, sorry TACO has you marching in the heat,' using the moniker for Trump that stands for Trump Always Chickens Out. 'To an extent, the military and the American flag, for a long time, have been kind of symbols of the MAGA group, but I don't think that's a fair representation to either of those parties,' Isabel noted. 'So we're trying to take it back again, and just show support for the military without showing support to MAGA.' Then there was Matt Hawthorne. While Trump was speaking, chants of 'USA, USA' broke out that weren't in response to the president. A small crowd had formed around one large white man with glasses who was screaming 'traitor' and 'rapist' while Trump supporters surrounded him, shouting him down. They took Hawthorne's protest sign, calling him a 'stupid motherfucker.' He immediately pulled out another one that read 'Cheer the troops. Boo the traitor. Using them as props,' and continued to holler until Park Police came over and the crowd dispersed. Hawthorne told me he wasn't afraid for his safety as a 'big, powerful' white man. 'Trump said that protest would be met with 'heavy force.' … That's when people have to protest,' he said. 'I am the safest person who can protest, and so it's crucial that I do that.' Like other liberal resistors, Hawthorne had no issue with the parade conceptually, just Trump's use of the military. 'I support our military. I think it's great to celebrate the Army's birthday. I think that doing it so it ends at the White House on Trump's birthday, with numerous birthday wishes for him, is wildly inappropriate and reminiscent of dictatorships around the world,' Hawthorne said. 'If they wanted to do a historic parade, like a reconnection in Lexington and Concord, that would have been a wonderful birthday celebration for the army. Traditionally, when the military has gone through D.C., it starts or ends at the U.S. Capitol to represent the people's authority over our armed forces. Ending it at the White House is new, and shows how this president thinks that he should be the ultimate authority, which is authoritarianism.' While MAGA loyalists left the parade satisfied, it's clear that many Americans feel very conflicted about what U.S. military power and patriotism mean in the Trump era. And the low turnout will force MAGA to go to great lengths to spin a clear flop as a success. Trump wanted badly for this to be a grand, raucous, March on Washington-level event and it just wasn't close. Now American taxpayers paid millions so a few people could watch tanks rumble down the street while soldiers marched in centuries old war cosplay. Happy birthday, Mr. President.
National Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Trump's long-awaited military parade rolls through D.C. amid protests and patriotism
The grand military parade that President Donald Trump had been wanting for years barreled down Constitution Avenue on Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute, playing out against a counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the U.S. leader as a dictator and would-be king. Article content The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until the parade was added to an event recognizing the Army's 250th anniversary. Article content Article content Article content 'Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time America did too,' Trump declared in brief remarks at the parade's end. Article content Article content The president praised the strength of the military's fighting forces and said U.S. soldiers 'fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win' — putting a new twist on a line that Trump regularly delivered during his 2024 campaign rallies after he survived an assassination attempt. Article content Early in the evening's pageantry, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team descended from overcast skies toward the reviewing stand. The team had been scheduled to appear at the end of the parade, but jumped earlier than planned in the drizzly skies above the National Mall. Article content At times, Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand. But attendance appeared to fall far short of early predictions that as many as 200,000 people would attend the festival and parade. There were large gaps between viewers near the Washington Monument on a day when steamy weather and the threat of thunderstorms could have dampened turnout. Article content Article content Article content Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the U.S. capital. Article content Displays of military might Article content The daylong display of America's Army came as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other U.S. presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard over the governor's objections and dispatched the U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. Article content As armoured vehicles rolled down the street in front of the president, on the other side of the country, the Marines who Trump deployed to Los Angeles appeared at a demonstration for the first time, standing guard outside a federal building. Dozens of Marines stood shoulder to shoulder in full combat gear beside the National Guard, Homeland Security officers and other law enforcement. Hundreds of protesters facing them jeered in English and Spanish, telling the troops to go home.
