this post was submitted on 15 May 2025
425 points (100.0% liked)

politics

24586 readers
2728 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Twin celebrations of the Army's 250th anniversary and the president's birthday will include as many as 25 tanks rolling through Washington.

Twin celebrations of Donald Trump’s birthday and the Army’s 250th anniversary will include as many as 25 tanks rolling through Washington in a celebration that will cost $25 million to $45 million, U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

U.S. military service branches take pride in their history and anniversary celebrations, called birthdays, across the United States and on bases around the world.

The U.S. Army had long been planning to move troops and equipment to the National Mall in Washington on June 14 as part of its anniversary celebration. Plans now include a parade since that coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters, on condition of anonymity, the eventual cost could be as high as $45 million. One of them said the cost included several million dollars more than it would have without a parade.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 114 points 1 month ago (4 children)

I don't know how common this sentiment is but I see a major military parade on US soil as an embarrassment. No uninvited foreign troops have set foot in the contiguous US since the Mexican American War ended in 1848. There hasn't been a military battle in the contiguous US since Wounded Knee in 1890, inasmuch as Wounded Knee was a battle. Part of the privileges that Americans enjoy is that that level of conflict happens elsewhere. Large displays of military power at home deminish us.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have few teachers I can remember lessons from my high school days, 20+ years ago. The US was fresh post 9/11, patriot act era.

AP History teacher, a Vietnam vet, took his time to explain why only "tinpot dictators" need military parades to show power and US armed forces Generals would never go for it.

While teaching checks-and-balances, he firmly believed enough good men and women would remain in positions of power to never let a dictator override the constitution.

Another time, he pointed out that the presidential election is never actually called until the candidate concedes (when asked about gore v w) and that fore conceded because that is what is done. When we pressed him on it, he said "You are teenage boys, and you think like teenage boys. Adults know what's right, even if it means you lose."

All that is to say, I consistently see reminders that this current administration has the same mental thought process as a group of teenage boys, spoiled teenagers who started at third and think they hit a home run.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

To be fair, did Trump ever actually concede after 2020? Dude still says he won.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

All military parades are ridiculously embarrassing.

I remember when they used to air the annual Scottish tattoo on tv.

I mean, it's probably fun for anyone who participates or has a hard on for bagpipes, but for the rest of the world, it's a ridiculous event where an audience shows up to watch men in uniform walk in beat and show their rifles in sync. It's like square dancing, but only for men, and longer guns.

Good thing that I can switch channels, so I can watch syncronized swimming from the Olympics instead. I like their uniforms better.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

The battle of Blair Mountain is the closest modern battle in the contiguous U.S.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Not to mention he's a draft dodger as well. He doesn't deserve a military parade based on that alone.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I assume they’re wanting to do it for the U.S.’s LAST birthday?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 month ago

Hopefully for Trump's

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 month ago (2 children)

And this will fix the economy and end the war in Ukraine and Gaza how?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In reality we all know it wont do shit.

In Trump's mind it will show the world what a glorious and powerful leader he is, and everyone will just do what he demands.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

We'll see the plan isn't to end any wars, it's to profit off of them. And when they said they were going to fix the economy, they meant they were going to make money off the U.S. populous. Americans as a whole have lost money since they came in, but they have made a lot of money themselves.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 month ago

GUYS I FOUND THE WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

as many as 25 tanks rolling through Washington

I hope they shred Pennsylvania Ave. to smithereens... 🤡 🖕

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

I don't think they will do much if they go in a straight line. If they start doing donuts then it would probably wreck some shit.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Historically speaking, USSR / Russia, China, and NK have loved to talk up the capabilities of their kit, and these parades were a big part of that. They have frequently failed to deliver on all of their promised capabilities.

In the United States we have done the opposite. We don't talk about our latest gen aircraft programs; we hide them out in the desert. When we do talk we remain cagey about what we have for years and decades, until long after we've started selling it to allies.

I understand that this parade will not show off our real capabilities (not at 25 tanks anyway), but I am saddened that the man feels like he needs to stoop to the level of the adversaries we've held for so long.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

He's mad that Putin and el-Sisi both got cool military parades. I remember him wanting to do this in his first term.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago (1 children)

America is a failed state, your poor die because they can't afford hospitals, your rich steal everything they want, and use your armed forces as their toys.

You are a disgrace, shame on all of you for not introducing this man and his friends to Madame Guillotine.

The world see you as weak and it will take a generation to repair the dammage you have done to your reputation.

Fught for fucks sake are you just waiting for him to die so u can get a new dictator?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I support the criticisms, but history will just see this as the thousandth time this has happened across the globe, and not nearly the only place it's happening right now.

Generally speaking revolutions like you speak of are not a feature of the modern world. They only happen when a stronger and more wealthy outside force helps drive them. That's notably not something that can happen in the strongest and most wealthy country in the world.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (6 children)

In America they dont your docile the rest of us over throw our fascists

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago

This is why we can't have 30 dolls

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The cost of the charade, eh parade:

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

When the Tao is present in the universe,
The horses haul manure.
When the Tao is absent from the universe,
War horses are bred outside the city.

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 46

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago

Some new Luigi needs to pull off a Tiananmen Square: Washington Drift

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

Just give Trump the option of taking the cash in lieu of the parade and BOOM no more parade.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You know….

There are roughly 7 million people on SSDI. A good chunk of those who of us on SSDI are at poverty level or less.

There are roughly 18 million veterans. Many of them have been at poverty level or less.

You could give 25 million people who are either veterans or disabled a million dollars tax-free and no strings attached and you would improve their quality of life drastically.

But, no, the Orange King needs his ego soothed and inflated by having a fucking parade on his birthday. Absolutely disgusting and I really hope there will be a major protest at the same time. I might use the meager finances I have and take a trip to D.C. for that.

The irony? Some of those men and women from the military in that parade will be left to rot once their service is over.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You could give 25 million people who are either veterans or disabled a million dollars...

Not to rain on your parade (I think the idea of a military parade is patiently wasteful and dumb, meanwhile we don't do enough as a nation to care for veterans and disabled people), but that would be a lot more than $45 million. More like $25 trillion... or 25,000x $1 billion... or 25,000,000x $1 million.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Good grief I can’t do math apparently. Thank you for correcting me.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

You might enjoy this video talking about exactly this error and why it happens so often. Interesting stuff!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

The little girl only needs 3 pencils. The little boy needs multi-million dollar attention.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (9 children)

As much as I want to bash trump, understand that this parade would have happened regardless of who is president and when their birthday is.

[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 month ago (2 children)

As much as I want to bash trump, understand that this parade would have happened regardless of who is president and when their birthday is.

Others have already pointed out you're wrong, but I was just curious how wrong. So I went looking. Any searches within the last year are polluted with results talking about this trump parade, so I set the search first to prior to 2024 which revealed something I had entirely forgotten. tRUMP TRIED THIS CRAP BEFORE in 2018 AND WAS SHOT DOWN ON COSTS:

source

So setting the search criteria PRIOR to even the first trump presidency in 2015 gives us this:

source

So it is by no means common to have military equipment rolling down Pennsylvania avenue and even that much smaller one cost $12m in 1991 dollars ($28,305,381.17 in 2025 dollars).

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I see. I was mistaken. Very mistaken. I thought that there was going to be a parade or event anyways because it was a 250 year thing.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Please tell me you don’t live in the US.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Alright. I don't live in the US.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Thanks for the analysis! Looks like the 250th anniversary will be the party line for MAGAts and such. I was sure the anniversary was just an excuse but this is even more black and white.

Makes you feel like you're taking crazy pills watching everyone accept insanity. Grab a Republican from twenty years ago and tell them the president is holding a military parade and they'd want to impeach him.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 month ago

Plans now include a parade since that coincides with Trump's 79th birthday.

According to the article, the parade part is specifically for Trump

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Even the article says there would not be a parade if it wasn't for trump. It's right there in the post body.

Come on man.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I think the scale here is more what's up for debate.

It's very likely Army would have done something to commemorate the anniversary.

But a parade with 45 tanks? Probably not, the last time the Army did a parade was in 91.

There wasn't even one was for the 200th anniversary.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Fair enough, my mistake

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago

Plans now include a parade since that coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

Boy howdy this is the type of claim that is easily researched. Even without the birthday these displays are not a common occurrence.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

You understand that this is an admission that the US is just flat out a fascist country, right? A fascist democracy is still a fascist country.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Simply not true.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

So another republican did a milatary parade, interesting.

load more comments
view more: next ›