Parades and Protests
On June 14th, President Trump’s long-planned military parade, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and his 79th birthday, passed through downtown Washington, even as mass “No Kings” protests started sprouting.
Although military parades are often held to appreciate commemorate significant military events, anniversaries, or victories, many critics are stating that Trump might’ve desired the event to enhance his own image by associating himself with the military’s strength.
“Time and again, America’s enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, soldiers are coming for you. Your defeat will be certain, your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete,” said Trump
In a study poll from NBC, it was recorded that 60% of adults disapproved of the spending of government money and that the parade was “not a good use.” 78% neither approved nor disapproved of the parade, considering that the estimated cost of the parade was $25 million to $45 million.
Military parades, historically used by figures like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin to project power and influence, are also a tool of modern nations such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran for projecting political messages. In this context, critics viewed President Trump’s desire for a military parade, especially coinciding with his 79th birthday, as an attempt to enhance his personal image and convey a sense of authoritarianism.
The “No Kings” protests were a series of nationwide demonstrations against the policies and actions of Trump. The movement was organized by groups, including the 50501 Movement and Indivisible.
After many interviews with protesters, the top points have been to reject “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy.”
Trump stated, “We have the greatest missiles in the world.” He continued, “We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest Army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it.”
As the parade continued, showcasing tanks and other armored vehicles, because of the heavy machinery that had been rolled up in Washington, there have been concerns for the street repairs. The cost of repairing Washington’s streets from the damage expected from rolling 60-ton tanks down Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenue is still unknown.
