On his 79th birthday, Trump receives his long-awaited military spectacle, but the parade is marred by politics, protests, and rain.
Former President Donald Trump is finally getting the massive military parade he has long dreamed of after years of longing and endless political bickering. The celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday night at the Lincoln Memorial on Flag Day and his 79th birthday, promises a spectacular display of tanks, soldiers, military bands, and fighter aircraft flyovers. However, it has its own share of controversy, issues, and theatrical connotations, just like any large-scale performance.
@ClaudiasWorkshop 
The Presidential-Scale Birthday Celebration
Since he saw France's Bastille Day parade in 2017, Trump has never concealed his desire for a military show. He promised to bring a larger, more aggressive version to Pennsylvania Avenue, drawing inspiration from the troops' coordinated march along the Champs-Élysées. Although it did not happen during his first term, the dream has now materialized with a nod to power and pageantry.
A large public festival with military exercises, fitness contests, armored vehicle displays, live music, and, in typical birthday form, a ceremonial cake cutting will start off the celebrations at 9:30 a.m. EDT. However, the actual crescendo begins at six:
A large public festival with military exercises, fitness contests, armored vehicle displays, live music, and, in typical birthday form, a ceremonial cake cutting will start off the celebrations at 9:30 a.m. EDT. When the parade itself starts its slow, methodical march down Constitution Avenue through Washington, D.C., around 6:30 p.m., the actual crescendo begins.
Tensions, tanks, and thunderstorms
The parade's logistics resemble a political thriller's narrative. To join the heavier armor already stationed in D.C., some elements, like marching battalions and horse-drawn caissons, will begin near the Pentagon and cross a bridge. Officials have prudently chosen not to deploy 60-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks across the bridge in order to prevent structural damage.
The forecast adds to the sense of uncertainty: thunderstorms are predicted, and although White House spokesman Anna Kelly maintains that the parade will proceed "rain or shine," lightning would cause the National Mall to be evacuated quickly. On social media, Trump dismissed worries, writing, "What a day it will be!!!" and adding, "Rain gives you good luck... does not affect the tanks." has no impact on the warriors. They are hardy. Smart.”
Legal Showdowns and Political Overtones
The procession could be overshadowed by more than just the rain, though. Political tension permeates the entire situation. For the first time in 60 years, a president has mobilized the California National Guard and U.S. Marines amid protests in Los Angeles without Governor Gavin Newsom's approval.
the Guard within a state without the governor's consent, per federal directives. Since then, Newsom has sued to stop the move, casting a legal shadow over the already turbulent weekend.
And when 82nd Airborne Division personnel were told to stand with Trump during a speech that went drastically into partisan area earlier this week at Fort Bragg, uproar flared up once more. Lawmakers and military officials criticized the crowd's combination of jeers and applause, as well as a pop-up MAGA product stand, pointing out that uniformed personnel are not allowed to attend political gatherings.
Public Attitude and the "No Kings" Movement
Thousands of demonstrators nationwide are organizing "No Kings" protests in protest of what they call an egotistical show that puts one man above the country. It is interesting to note that, despite increased security, no formal protests are planned in Washington, D.C.
National sentiment is doubtful, even though there is hardly much organized opposition in the capital. Nearly 60% of Americans think the parade is "not a good use" of public monies, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. This percentage rises to 78% among those who have no opinion about the event.
Greenwood, Fireworks, and a Touch of Spectacle
With a patriotic crooner Lee Greenwood performing "God Bless the U.S.A.", a spectacular parachute leap, and a fireworks display worthy of a nation—or, maybe more appropriately, a king's birthday—the evening will conclude in quintessential Trumpian manner.
It is anticipated that up to 200,000 people would visit the National Mall. One thing is clear, though, whether people attend to applaud, jeer, or just take in the political spectacle: the parade serves as a mirror reflecting the country's persistent political and cultural divisions.
The nation thus witnesses not only a parade but a power play, encased in red, white, and blue and pierced by both real and symbolic thunderclouds, as tanks roll, flags fly, and thunder cracks above D.C.
