Donald Trump marked his birthday with a grand $45 million military parade in honor of the US Army’s 250th anniversary, but a particular detail has caught people’s attention, sparking discontent.
Thousands gathered to witness the spectacle, cheering as troops marched past tanks and celebratory banners adorned the scene.
Despite the lively festivities, one aspect stood out to many viewers.
On Saturday, June 14, Trump turned 79, and what better location to celebrate than Washington, DC?
Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, family members, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other officials, Trump walked out to the tunes of ‘Hail to the Chief’ and ‘Happy Birthday’. All initially appeared to be going smoothly.
The parade kicked off with impressive displays of tanks, aircraft, and parachuters descending from above, as over 6,000 uniformed soldiers passed through the capital.
The thrilling sight was enough to captivate anyone’s attention, right?
Apparently not.
Cameras caught the president seemingly struggling to stay awake during the event.
It looked as though he was unsuccessfully battling the urge to take a nap.
Seated next to his wife, Trump was observed nodding off, his eyes periodically closing for extended moments.
The footage led some online viewers to criticize his apparent drowsiness.
One individual commented: “General Fatten orders a gazillion $ military parade and then falls asleep during it. Don Snorleone strikes again!”
Another remarked: “Time to relieve him of the office. He is too old.”
Someone else added: “He wasted tax dollars for a parade that he ended up finding absolutely boring and was forced to stay for the whole thing. Amazing.”
Clearly, many were unhappy about Trump’s alleged dozing during the event.
The parade concluded with the president addressing the gathering in an eight-minute-long speech, stating: “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too.
“We’re the hottest country in the world right now,” he continued. “If you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you.”
However, despite claims of 250,000 attendees, images from the event led many to suspect the number was exaggerated, with reports from the Associated Press, the New York Times, and Fox News suggesting the actual crowd size was much smaller.
People took to social media to comment on the lackluster attendance.
“Bro said ‘display of military might’. I see lawn chairs and a Bluetooth speaker,” one tweeted. “It looks like a recruiting booth a Six Flags.”
“More people IN the parade than AT the parade,” added another.
Opinions on the parade varied greatly, as did perceptions of the event’s actual turnout.