President Donald Trump is under fire for a proposed expensive military parade in Washington, D.C., next month. The June 14 event is intended to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. But the date coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday, something that has triggered outrage among citizens and led thousands to call for the parade cancellation.
One such petition, ‘Cancel Trump’s birthday parade NOW’, was started by a collective named Left Action on the Care2 Petitions website. With over 23,000 supporters so far, the campaign is close to reaching its target of 25,000.
The description of the petition is a harsh critique of the endeavor: “America’s military are there to protect our country — not be play toys for a wannabe dictator. But Trump is making thousands of them parade through DC on his birthday, complete with tanks, planes, and God only knows what else, to impress Trump and his enormous ego. It will cost a fortune, at a time when the GOP is starving essential programs, and it’s a terrible notion. Trump needs to cancel it NOW. And if he won’t, Congress must defund it. Sign your name, and insist Trump’s parade not proceed.”
White House Confirms Parade Plans
The White House has confirmed that the former president plans to proceed with the military parade, labeling it as a salute to the sacrifices of U.S. troops. On his social media site, Truth Social, Trump billed the event as a celebration of honoring those who ‘fought, bled, and died to keep us free’, stating it would be ‘a parade that is worthy of their service and sacrifice’.
Preparations for the event are already underway, costing millions of dollars in funding, thousands of troops, and a large workforce to organize logistics.
Critics Slam Parade as ‘Vanity Project
Critics of the parade claim that it is more of a personal celebration for Trump rather than a national tribute to the military. Critics have criticized the event’s lavish budget and accused Trump of using public funds to promote himself.
No doubt, it is not the first time Trump has tried to host such a spectacle. Back in 2018, during his first term as president, a Veterans Day parade was proposed but ultimately canceled over budgetary issues.
As the petition gathers steam, the argument rages on about whether public money and military personnel should be utilized in a show that some have interpreted as more about political vanity than patriotic responsibility.
