Trump's Military Parade: A Miserable Day for Spectators Despite Sunny Skies. Critics hoped for rain, but the sweltering heat and long waits on the National Mall overshadowed President Trump's 79th birthday celebration. Taxpayer-funded tanks rolled through D.C. in a controversial display, leaving attendees exhausted and facing scarce resources. Read about the long lines, oppressive humidity, and anti-Trump protests that marred the event
Despite the lack of rain, the atmosphere remained unpleasant. Long waits, oppressive heat, and limited amenities made for a miserable experience for many attendees
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Trump's Taxpayer-Funded Military Parade: A Costly Birthday Celebration? Critics slammed President Trump's extravagant military parade, costing tens of millions in taxpayer dollars, as a self-serving birthday spectacle. Originally planned as a low-key Army 250th-anniversary event, Trump reportedly commandeered the celebration, transforming it into an authoritarian-style display of military might. The long, hot day left many attendees exhausted, facing hours of lines and limited amenities
Scorching heat and hours-long security lines plagued the National Mall's Army 250th Anniversary Festival and parade. Thousands endured oppressive humidity waiting to enter, first for the festival (11 a.m. start, parade at 6:30 p.m.), then again for the parade, with lines stretching for blocks. While VIPs enjoyed comfort, attendees faced grueling conditions, limited food and water, and escalating anti-Trump protests
Trump's Military Parade: A Day of Discomfort for Attendees. While VIPs enjoyed comfort, thousands endured long waits, oppressive heat, scarce resources, and escalating confrontations with anti-Trump protesters. The experience left many exhausted before the parade even began
Limited food and shade at Trump's military parade left attendees, including families with children, facing long waits and uncomfortable conditions. While kids enjoyed exploring military vehicles like helicopters and tanks, water was the only readily available refreshment besides a few ice cream vendors and free lollipops. Despite the crowds, movement around the festival was surprisingly easy, although the main stage seating remained largely unoccupied
Navigating Washington D.C.'s Trump parade proved challenging. Lack of signage, coupled with sweltering heat and overcrowded, barricaded streets, left thousands of attendees, including families with children, wandering aimlessly. Long lines at security checkpoints, stretching for blocks, added to the frustration
Trump's Military Parade: A Day of Protests and Discomfort. While Trump celebrated with a taxpayer-funded spectacle, attendees endured hours-long lines, oppressive heat, and limited amenities. Adding to the tension, energetic anti-Trump protesters, blasting music and chanting, directly confronted parade-goers, creating a stark contrast to the sluggish, uncomfortable atmosphere. Their signs labeled Trump a fascist, highlighting the deep divisions on display during the controversial event
Trump's Military Parade: A Day of Protests, Delays, and Discomfort. Demonstrators shouted "TRAITOR!" near parade-goers waiting in long security lines under oppressive heat. Attendees endured hours of delays, limited food and water, while the President enjoyed a comfortable viewing experience
Exhaustion set in early at Trump's military parade. Hours of waiting in blocks-long security lines on a sweltering day deterred many attendees, even families, who gave up before the event began. The oppressive heat and lengthy queues created a miserable experience for many, highlighting the logistical challenges of the spectacle
Exhausted and frustrated, one attendee told HuffPost she was abandoning her ticket and heading home early from Trump's military parade, citing the oppressive heat, long security lines, and overall miserable conditions
Beyond the Trump Supporters: A Look at the Diverse Crowd at the Military Parade
Amidst the long wait for Trump's military parade, a surprising sight emerged: George Washington, in full 18th-century garb, resting near the Army's 250th-anniversary festival, claiming to celebrate Flag Day
Trump's Military Parade: A Day of Patriotism and Protest. Witness firsthand accounts from attendees, including James Manship (Washington), who described the event as a "family gathering" of patriots, reflecting renewed national pride and hope
Asked for his take on the massive “No Kings” protests taking place nationwide that day, in defiance against Trump’s authoritarian efforts, Manship said “part of our system” is that people have a right to express themselves. But things took a turn when he compared anti-Trump protesters to British loyalists in the Revolutionary War, and then falsely claimed pro-Trump rioters were simply expressing themselves when they stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
He shared a photo of himself waving a pro-Trump flag and a U.S. flag outside of the Capitol that day. “I saw that it was a set-up,” Manship claimed of the clash between rioters and police. “So I said the best thing for me to do is get out of here. I said a prayer, turned and marched away.”
Matthew Puit was sitting nearby on a barrier with his wife, Eliana, who was taking photos of the Capitol in the distance. They came to D.C. from Mays Landing, New Jersey, but not for the parade ― for a Washington Nationals baseball game, so they figured they’d visit the Army festival, too.
“It’s part of history,” said Eliana, who requested using only her first name.
“I like guns and tanks and so, I was able to get pictures,” said Puit.
Neither said they had strong opinions about the protests against Trump because they consider themselves “politics-naive.” But Eliana said she recently read about what the “No Kings” protests were about, and said she could relate to their anti-authoritation message.
“I just don’t want authoritarian. I don’t want another Fidel Castro type of thing,” said Eliana, who is originally from Miami.
Asked how they feel about Trump’s harsh immigration enforcement, both said they work with people who are immigrants and who are scared. Eliana said she provides health care to indigent populations, and many of her patients have stopped coming in for appointments.
“I have people with testicular cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer who are not coming in for their follow-ups,” she said. “They’re afraid we’re going to report them to ICE.”
Dressed in red, white and blue overalls, and a cowboy hat, Christopher Quaglin of New Jersey stood next to a massive flag that read, “January 6 was an inside job.” He was a Jan. 6 defendant who spent two years in prison, though, prior to Trump releasing him, he was sentenced to 12 years for repeatedly attacking police officers, spraying them with chemical irritants and stealing police officers’ riot shields.
Quaglin said he “lost everything” after going to prison, and the reason he was attending the day’s events was “out of desperation for money.” He wants to go on a tour of colleges to talk to students about how hard it was for him in prison and to advocate for prison reform.
He said he felt mixed about Trump going after undocumented immigrants who aren’t violent criminals. But moments later, he said he was fine with it and blamed former President Joe Biden for having “left the border open for four years.”
“It sucks, but you have to fight fire with fire,” Quaglin said of arresting and deporting immigrants who aren’t violent criminals. “They forced [Trump’s] hand.”
Wow– loud protesters now chanting “Fuck Trump” and booing at people as they filter out of Trump’s military parade.
By the end of the day, the only people visibly energized and happy, at least among the throngs of people milling about after the parade ended, were the protesters. Even some Secret Service agents seemed over it.
One agent passed by HuffPost muttering about how to get the crowd dispersed after the parade and seemed reluctant to get aggressive about it, “just for some fucking propaganda.”
Protesters had grown by the dozens as people trickled out of the parade. They gathered on a street corner by one of the parade exits to greet people with jeers and signs like “All Hail Commander Bone Spurs” and “Stop Fascism Now.”
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“Fuck Trump!” they shouted in unison at parade attendees filtering out of the event. “Shame! Shame! Shame!”
So after a painfully long day of lines and sweltering heat, many of the people who showed up to honor Trump in MAGA gear ended their day by being publicly shamed.
But Trump still got his birthday parade.
Source: Original Article