A nation on parade: Trump’s military spectacle fuels criticism of American decline

Department of Research, Studies and International News 16-06-2025

Washington, DC, June 14 marked not only the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army but also former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The occasion was punctuated by a heavily militarized parade in the U.S. capital, featuring tanks, helicopters, and armored vehicles rolling down Constitution Avenue, a scene more reminiscent of Cold War-era propaganda than democratic celebration.

The event, orchestrated by Trump and his allies, was billed as a tribute to the military. But its timing, tone, and scale sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing Trump of using the military for personal glorification. The fusion of presidential birthday fanfare and military pageantry prompted observers around the world to question what direction the U.S. is heading, and whether the line between patriotism and authoritarian theatrics has been permanently blurred.

“This is dictator behavior,” said Terry Mahoney, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran protesting nearby. “Trump has already stomped all over the Constitution, this is just the camouflage.” The mood among demonstrators ranged from defiant to disillusioned, as many saw the parade as a distraction from growing unrest and inequality at home.

Meanwhile, Trump supporters, many clad in “MAGA” merchandise, praised the spectacle. Some even traveled from across the country to witness what they called a “historic moment.” Yet many admitted confusion over whether they were attending a military commemoration or a birthday rally for a former president.

The lavish display included 28 Abrams tanks and a fleet of modern and vintage military aircraft, an unprecedented show of force not seen in Washington since the 1991 Gulf War victory parade. But unlike that moment of post-war unity, this event occurred amid deep social fragmentation and legal challenges over Trump’s deployment of federal forces to suppress protests in states like California.

This unilateral action has raised serious constitutional questions. A judge recently ruled that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard without state consent was unlawful, though the decision was temporarily blocked by a higher court. Civil rights groups warn that such moves could be laying the groundwork for wider domestic militarization.

Veterans and civil society activists expressed concern that Trump is attempting to normalize the use of military might in civilian spaces. “He’s flaunting power, not celebrating service,” said Roland Roebuck, a Vietnam War veteran. Roebuck condemned the parade’s $45 million cost amid ongoing cuts to federal support for veterans and minority communities.

“This is not leadership,” he added. “It’s a show. And it’s a dangerous one.”

International observers, especially in nations skeptical of U.S. global dominance, watched the event with bemusement. In countries like Russia, China, and Iran, where military parades mark national pride and unity, such events are conducted with clarity of purpose. But the Washington parade revealed a nation in internal turmoil, projecting strength outward while crumbling within.

For many, the imagery of tanks in the streets and soldiers guarding political events evoked not pride, but warning. “Protesting is patriotic,” said Anahi Rivas-Rodriguez, a young Latina protester near the White House. “But when leaders treat dissent as treason, we’re no longer in a democracy.”

As the parade concluded, questions lingered: Was this a show of national unity, or a warning sign of America’s deepening identity crisis? Either way, for much of the world, it reinforced a growing perception, the U.S. is not a beacon of freedom but a superpower in disarray.