Latest news with #TrumpBirthday
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans Reveal Their Excuses to be Anywhere But Trump's Birthday Parade
President Donald Trump has been hyping his military parade ahead of tanks rolling through Washington, D.C. on Saturday, but many Republican lawmakers are not sticking around. The parade is billed as a celebration of the Army's 250th anniversary, but it also happens to fall on the president's 79th birthday. The Daily Beast reached out to dozens of GOP lawmakers to see who would be in attendance, and few signaled they would show up despite Trump touting an 'incredible' display. Senators are mostly heading home to their states for the weekend. Few offered up reasons why they would not be sticking in the nation's capital, but for some, it is work-related, while others had personal obligations. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan was traveling for a funeral. Senator Pete Ricketts was heading back to Nebraska, where the College World Series is starting this weekend in Omaha, while Senator Roger Wicker will be heading to the Paris Air Show. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville is running for governor and told reporters he would be back in his home state campaigning. Senator Markwayne Mullin is a close ally of Trump, but he is celebrating his wedding anniversary this weekend. That meant heading back to Oklahoma to be with his wife and children. Among Senate leadership, neither Senate Majority Leader John Thune nor Whip John Barrasso plans to make an appearance. Leading up to the extravaganza, several GOP senators even questioned whether the parade, which could cost as much as $45 million according to the army, should take place at all. 'The United States of America is the most powerful country in all of human history. We're a lion, and a lion doesn't have to tell you it's a lion,' said Louisiana Senator John Kennedy. 'I would save the money, but if the president wants to have a parade, he's the president, and I'm not.' Senator Rand Paul said he has 'never been a fan of goose-stepping soldiers in big tanks and missiles rolling down the street' and likened the expected imagery to the Soviet Union and North Korea. One senator who will be in attendance is Senator Roger Marshall. His office said he would be welcoming troops in Washington, D.C., from Fort Riley in Kansas. On the House side, excitement was also lacking. Politico surveyed 50 Republican lawmakers and found only seven said they would attend. Among those who would be appearing are MAGA favorite Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. 'The Congresswoman was invited by the President to attend the parade honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and, as a Nationalist, she is honored to attend,' her office told the Daily Beast in a statement. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not be at the parade because of family business. He told reporters he was moving from his family home and downsizing, so he had to 'go do that unfortunately.' GOP lawmakers heading out of town could be avoiding some nasty weather. The forecast in Washington on Saturday indicates a 65 percent chance of rain, including thunderstorms. But the president indicated Thursday evening that he won't let anything rain on his parade. 'I hope the weather's okay, but actually if it's not, that brings you good luck,' Trump said. 'That's ok too, doesn't matter. It doesn't affect the tanks at all. It doesn't affect the soldiers. They're used to it. They're tough.'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nicolle Wallace Unloads on Trump's ‘Perverted' Military Parade
MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace called out Donald Trump for 'gleefully and brazenly using troops as pawns' ahead of the big big military parade that will mark his 79th birthday Saturday, Wallace, guest-hosting Pod Save America with former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau on Friday, discussed 'the North Korean-style birthday party' Trump has 'wanted for years.' 'This is so perverted from what's normal,' Wallace said of Trump's usurping the Army's 250th birthday for his own celebration. As Trump's team reportedly screened the military members in the audience for allegiance and physical appearance ahead of his Fort Bragg speech Tuesday, Wallace wondered aloud, 'Who else is being vetted? Who else is being staged? Who else is being pushed out of the picture for being fat? I mean, what else is really happening there?' Trump's military parade is expected to take place Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The president's birthday celebration will cost taxpayers an estimated $45 million, but Wallace said Trump's 'perversion' of the non-partisan military will cost Americans more than just tax dollars long-term. 'I think that we probably only see the tip of the iceberg,' she said. The Fort Bragg speech, which served as a 'pre-celebration' of sorts for the president, featured men and women in uniform booing Democrats. Wallace, a former communications director for George W. Bush, reflected on the traditional separation of politics from the U.S. military. 'You and I both wrote speeches for presidents that were delivered in front of troops,' she said. 'You're cognizant that the applause lines don't have anything to do with your president's policies because you don't want them to look like they have to applaud a policymaker.' 'You craft the speeches so that there's only an applause when you're celebrating the men and women of the military, either their current courage or their historic greatness,' she continued. For Trump to have encouraged and cherry-picked uniformed military members into a divisive display of loyalty to one side is troubling, Wallace said, but not surprising. 'To see this event at Fort Bragg and to see the way they are gleefully and brazenly using troops as pawns—the greatest victim of that is the troops, is the military,' she said. 'And I think it's actually shocking that the Republican senators are complicit.' Wallace went on to express little hope that any Republican lawmakers will speak out. 'Where are the people who are still willing to sort of put their body between brazen partisanship and the military?' she asked. 'In the Republican Party, there aren't any.' 'Even the former generals are afraid to speak out, or restrained from speaking out,' Wallace said, but she maintained that she will not be keeping quiet. 'I'm not not scared. I just don't think it makes me safer to be quiet,' she explained. 'I feel that way as a cable host. I'm not not concerned that they're not looking for anyone in the media to make a mistake and then come after the media. I just don't think you're in a safer posture in a defensive crouch.'
Forbes
3 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Thoughts On Humble Leadership
TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (C) stands and salutes, flanked by US Secretary of Defense Pete ... More Hegseth and US First Lady Melania Trump, as they watch the Army 250th Anniversary Parade from the Ellipse in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army which also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) I'm supposed to write on (among other things) leadership. Well, now, the events of this past weekend – Donald Trump's military parade that just so happened to coincide with his birthday, and the many hundreds of 'No Kings' protests in all 50 states and in large cities and small towns – made this an easy assignment. Rather than report this as news – there was plenty of real time reporting going on – I decided to reflect for a couple of days. Here's the result. The massive bill of $45 million or more paid for a big bust of a parade and – let's call it what it was – a very poorly attended birthday party. Black Hawk helicopters, Howitzers, and other heavy-duty war machinery were quite the attention getters on Constitution Avenue, which is usually choked by traffic jams of tour buses and private cars. Three dozen or so horses and 30 Abrams tanks showed us how well-prepared we are for World War I. And nearly 7,000 soldiers marching less energetically and with less precision than my junior high school marching band demonstrated what my best friend's son pointed out, that a lot of soldiers would have chosen another activity for their Saturday evening. And there stood our president, saluting, All this in front of a crowd of far less than the 200,000 predicted by the administration while, at the same time, 5,000,000 or more Americans all over this great land were showing the vision, commitment, and willingness to get their point across: No Kings. Reporting aside, the question loomed: What do we make of all this? The answer is in the form of another question. What would a leader more humble than Donald Trump have said or done? And from teaching graduate leadership courses for 15 years at Fairleigh Dickinson University, I offer a few suggestions. In the shortest inaugural ever given, Washington was more humble than usual. 'I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America. 'Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.' That's it. Then he sat down, let the ceremony proceed, and set to the task of continuing to run this country, a power he willingly yielded four years later, despite widespread public support to stay. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less." 'Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.' Confucius (born 551 B.C.) is considered the world's first professional teacher. 'Whatever you do may seem insignificant. But it is very important that you do it.' The Mahatma led the largest rebellion in human history. 'People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.' 'Live your life, do your work, take your hat.'
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Late Night Thinks Trump's Military Parade Was Kind of Dull
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night's highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Trump's Sad Birthday President Trump hosted a military parade in Washington on Saturday — either for the Army's 250th anniversary or for his own birthday, depending on who you believed. The crowds seemed underwhelming. On Monday, Jimmy Kimmel called it Trump's 'much-anticipated Stupid Sweet 16 disguised as a tribute to the U.S. Army he bone-spurred his way out of.' 'You know, after all his talk about how this wasn't a birthday party for him, it kind of seemed like a birthday party for him.' — JIMMY KIMMEL 'The White House is now claiming that over 250,000 people attended the parade. Yeah, it was an estimate, give or take 250,000.' — JIMMY FALLON 'This was less a show of overwhelming force and more like a military museum getting in its steps.' — JON STEWART 'It was boring. It was basically a $50 million version of when a 5-year-old shows you every car in his Hot Wheels collection.' — JIMMY KIMMEL 'You can be the president of the United States, you can have an entire political party and a global media apparatus at your disposal. You can cow the media and the wealthy into obedience. You can command an army and deploy troops and have unlimited wealth and power, but you still can't force people to come to your [expletive] birthday party. And what is more American than that?' — SETH MEYERS The Punchiest Punchlines (Can You Hear Me Now Edition) 'The Trump Organization today unveiled plans for a new Trump mobile phone service. Best of all, you won't have any need for a friends and family plan.' — SETH MEYERS 'That guy will do anything to try to get his father to answer his phone calls.' — JIMMY KIMMEL, on Donald Trump Jr.'s introduction of Trump Mobile 'A lot of words come to mind when you think of Trump, but 'mobile' isn't really one of them.' — JIMMY FALLON 'Trump was like, [imitating Trump] 'It's called Trump Mobile. But for short, I'm calling it T-Mobile.' — JIMMY FALLON Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Trump's military parade was more of a kitsch day out than a dictator's display
S ome feared that Donald Trump's military parade would bring a touch of North Korea to the nation's capital. The sight of tanks rolling into the city in the same week the president deployed the troops to quell protests and delivered a deeply political speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg did little to alleviate those fears. But when the day came, it was something closer to a medium-sized town's July 4th celebration. There were families, picnics, bad weather and small crowds. There were no 20-foot missiles or long lines of intimidating military hardware. The sparse crowds that did turn out were instead treated to a history lesson about the U.S. Army to celebrate its 250th birthday (it also happened, by pure coincidence, to be Trump's 79th birthday). Some people feared the Washington, D.C., military parade would feel like something from North Korea. Instead it felt like a July 4 event. (EPA) As a regiment or unit would parade by, a voiceover told the crowd its history, and that same booming voice would intermittently follow up with a word for a sponsor. 'With thanks to our sponsor, Lockheed Martin,' the voice said after a touching tribute to the 1st Cavalry Division. Next, the same voice thanked the crypto platform Coinbase. Somewhere in the field behind, an energy drink company co-owned by Dana White, a friend of the president, was handing out free cans with the words 'screamin' freedom' on the front. People watch a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary. The weather kept some of the crowd away from the event. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Visitors watch members of the military march by. The event coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday. (Getty Images) The darker military parades that have become synonymous with tyrannical regimes around the world don't take breaks for corporate sponsors, nor do they sell pretzels, or have cooling tents. As Trump's favorite crooner Lee Greenwood took to the stage at sundown to sing 'God Bless the U.S.A,' the event took on a feel closer to Las Vegas than Pyongyang. More kitsch than threatening. But this event was more political than many Americans will be comfortable with. And even those who couldn't criticize the occasion doubted Trump's motives. 'This is the kind of thing that Stalin would have done. This is the kind of thing North Korea does. It sickens me that we're putting on this display just for one man's ego,' said Donna Stork, 73, who came from Hagerstown, Maryland, to protest. 'I have no problems with the Army having a celebration,' she said. 'What I do have a problem with is the implication that this is more about Trump and military might than it is about the 250th anniversary of people who fought and died for our country.' Members of the U.S. Army participated in the 250th birthday parade - which featured messages from corporate sponsors. (Getty Images) Trump and his wife, Melania, watch the fireworks that ended the parade. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Paul Scott, a Trump supporter who came from Dallas with his wife to watch the parade, did not appreciate the comparisons. 'You're a part of the tired media. We are exhausted with you,' he said. 'Go yell at everybody you want to yell at. We love hearing that you personally think that Donald Trump is North Korea's dictator. You're insane, not me.' Tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery rumbled down Constitution Avenue, a rare sight in the U.S., which has rarely in modern history had to prove its military strength to anyone. Trump's parade was planned long ago, but it happened to come at the end of an eventful week in which the president trampled norms and tested laws governing his control of the U.S. military. He dispatched troops to Los Angeles to handle relatively minor protests and threatened to do the same to cities across the country. He gave a deeply politicized speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg, during which he criticized political opponents to the cheers of the enlisted behind him. After all that, Saturday's parade seemed like a relatively tame use of the world's most powerful military force. For many, though, especially veterans, it was a chance to pay tribute to their fallen comrades and to receive thanks for their own service. 'I retired from the Army 30 years ago and I came to honor all the people that came before me, all the friends that I've lost,' said Van Beal, 70, who first joined the Army in 1978, 'and just to be here because it's only going to be one 250th, so it's a wonderful opportunity.'
