I went to Donald Trump’s birthday tank parade and he already thinks he’s a king
Over a couple Because Of This
During Donald Trump’s birthday parade, a massive military show took place that felt more like something from a dictatorship than a traditional American celebration. Over the span of a few hours, around 7,000 troops marched, dozens of tanks and military vehicles rolled by, helicopters buzzed overhead, and even two robotic dogs made an appearance. Trump sat on a podium watching, although at times he appeared to be struggling to stay awake.
When Trump came on stage to give a speech, the U.S. Army band played *My Country, ’Tis of Thee. It’s an American patriotic song, but it uses the same melody as the British national anthem God Save the King. This choice of music was hard to ignore, especially for those who already think Trump acts more like royalty than a public servant. His speech was surprisingly short and didn’t get too political, but everything around it screamed “strongman spectacle.”
The whole event seemed like it was designed more to feed Trump’s ego than to mark a meaningful occasion. Military parades of this scale are rare in the U.S. The last one happened in the early 1990s to celebrate a military victory in the Gulf War. This time, there was no victory to celebrate—just Trump’s birthday. And while officials claimed it was about the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, the real celebration for that was happening nearby in a smaller, more modest setting, with simple events like a rope-climbing contest and much fewer people wearing MAGA hats.
Everyone who turned up to the big parade talked more about Trump than the Army. They were there for *him*. Some people said the display of military power was good for national morale. But it was clear that this parade was as much about portraying Trump as a tough, almost king-like figure as it was about honoring the military. It was political theater designed to tie Trump’s image directly to American patriotism and strength.
There were some odd and awkward moments too. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was caught yawning. Trump sat between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was smiling widely, and Melania, who looked unhappy. At times, Trump looked like he was dozing off. Toward the end, he and Melania just stood silently on stage until a military officer had to tap him on the shoulder to let him know it was time to leave.
Meanwhile, many Americans were watching all this on TV alongside much more serious news—like a manhunt in Minnesota for a political assassin, growing protests against Trump’s authoritarian behavior, and worsening violence in the Middle East. Despite Trump once claiming he was a “President of Peace,” these events seemed to suggest otherwise.
As the crowd cheered and fireworks exploded near the Washington Monument, the whole thing felt like a carefully staged attempt to blend Trump, the military, and American identity into one image. For the thousands on the National Mall that day, it may have worked. But for others watching from a distance, it likely came off as unsettling—a reminder of how easily patriotism can be turned into a political weapon.
