President Donald Trump marked his 79th birthday with a grand $45 million military parade in Washington, DC, on Saturday, June 14. The event also celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Though hundreds of thousands were said to have attended, not everyone agreed with that estimate—or the spectacle itself.
Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, his family, and key figures like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump was welcomed with renditions of “Hail to the Chief” and “Happy Birthday.” The parade featured a powerful display of military might, including historic tanks, fighter jets, parachutists, and over 6,000 uniformed service members deployed throughout the city.
The show traced the U.S. Army’s legacy from the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Lexington to the present day. Notably, this was the largest military gathering of American troops since the Gulf War in 1991.
Following the parade, Trump addressed the crowd and military members with a brief eight-minute speech. He called for the U.S. to celebrate its military achievements like other nations do, proclaiming, “If you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you,” and referring to the U.S. as “the hottest country in the world right now.”
Later, the president and his guests enjoyed a fireworks display over the Tidal Basin.
White House communications director Steven Cheung claimed over 250,000 patriots braved potential rain to show support. However, media outlets including the Associated Press, The New York Times, and even Fox News reported that turnout appeared far smaller than claimed. Social media users echoed those observations with biting commentary.
One joked, “Bro said ‘show of military power.’ I see lawn chairs and a Bluetooth speaker,” while another added, “More people IN the parade than AT the parade.”
Critics questioned the event’s purpose and its steep price tag—estimated between $25 million and $45 million. Some expressed concern for the service members involved. One commenter wrote, “Military parades are wasteful. I want our troops to do their jobs, not perform for Trump’s birthday.”
The event came after Trump had long expressed his desire for a military parade, going back to his first term in 2017. His administration at the time had reportedly denied the request.
Meanwhile, protesters organized nationwide demonstrations to counter the celebration. In Philadelphia, the group No Kings led a major march to highlight what they saw as the contrast between their grassroots movement and what they labeled a “costly, wasteful, and un-American” display in Washington.
Demonstrations continued across the U.S. on Saturday, criticizing Trump’s approach to issues such as immigration enforcement and what they see as authoritarian tendencies. Trump, in turn, vowed to meet protesters with a “very huge force.” Cheung later mocked the counter-marches on social media, dismissing them as a “failure with small turnout.”
“It’s sad that Democrats and liberals prefer to stand with criminals and illegal immigrants rather than honor our Army’s 250th anniversary and Flag Day,” Cheung stated. “But millions of Americans are reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice of our military heroes who have served and continue to serve our great nation.”