The US President oversaw celebrations for the army’s 250th anniversary
Washington DC’s $45 million military parade was a complete and utter shambles, according to one US army veteran.
Taking place on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday on Saturday, June 14, the procession also marked the 250th anniversary of the star-spangled army.
It was intended to demonstrate power, but all the march seemed to do was welcome derision on social media, partly thanks to its tiny crowds and indifferent participants.
Reacting to the event on social platform X, veteran Christopher David went on to share: “I’ve marched in more military parades than I even care to remember. Probably watched dozens more as a spectator. And this is easily the worst and sloppiest marching I’ve ever witnessed at a formal military parade.
“It feels like a big ‘f**k you’ to Trump from the soldiers.”
Over 6,600 soldiers were involved, as well as robot dogs, military aircraft and tanks as they made their way down Constitution Avenue.
Early predictions suggested 200,000 might attend, but the reality of the numbers became starkly apparent when sizeable gaps appeared between watchers next to the Washington Monument. Weather did play its part, though, with thunderstorms said to be forecast that day.
Some X users mocked the celebration as a poor man’s imitation of all-singing, all-dancing North Korean parades, while according to the Associated Press, six in 10 Americans thought it was “not a good use” of government money.
A snapshot from the day captured Trump and his wife Melania looking terribly bored, with the President seemingly nodding off at one point too.
One person raged on X: “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.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
