As Trump wrapped up his speech along US Route 50, flanked by First Lady Melania Trump, the thousands-strong crowd surprised him with a full-throated birthday song. Trump, who turned 79 on Saturday, paused and smiled as he took it all in.
🚨 JUST IN: THOUSANDS of patriots and troops just sang Happy Birthday to President Trump, before chanting USA! USA!
He was then presented with a flag that flew over the Capitol on the Army’s 250th Birthday
Patriotism is BACK in DC! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ByTYNVnbLK
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 15, 2025
A young Army officer approached and presented Trump with a folded American flag. According to the officer, that flag had flown over the Capitol earlier in the day to commemorate the founding of the Army, the nation’s oldest military branch. It was a gift courtesy of the US Army Golden Knights.
Critics call it a ‘vanity show’, draft bills to block future parades
But not everyone was feeling the love. The event sparked backlash from the left as critics called it a politicized spectacle disguised as a patriotic tribute.
“I’m horrified by the parade, because this is not about honoring our military,” fumed Rep Adam Schiff, D-Calif, on a podcast. “It’s a military vanity show for a president who’s long wanted to have tanks rolling down the streets of our nation’s capital.”
Rep Steve Cohen, D-Tenn, drafted the cheekily titled Happy Birthday Budget Act, which aims to ban the use of taxpayer funds for similar celebrations, Fox News reported.
Protests also flared around the country, from Trump Tower in NYC to Mar-a-Lago in Florida. In Atlantic City — where Trump once ruled the casino scene — 79-year-old Debbie Ziev stood on the boardwalk.
“I feel the erosion of democracy. I feel taken away from due process,” she told the Washington Post at her first protest. “I felt strongly about Vietnam, but I think I feel more strongly about [Trump] going forward, with my children and grandchildren, because he’s ruining the country. He’s dividing us. He’s causing people not to talk to each other.”
Donald Trump throws a military bash
Flanked by two tanks on a stage platform, the US President delivered a seven-minute speech soaked in national pride.
“Time and again, America’s enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you,” Trump declared. “Your defeat will be certain, your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete.”
“We affirm with unwavering certainty … whenever duty calls and whatever danger comes, the American soldier will be there,” he added.
During the three-hour extravaganza, troops donned period uniforms, horses clip-clopped down the avenue, WWII-era bombers did flyovers, and the Golden Knights parachute team soared down from the sky. Trump applauded, saluted, and stood in awe of a grand fireworks finale.
He also swore in 250 new and reenlisted troops. “Congratulations, congratulations. Welcome to the United States Army. And have a great life,” he told them.
Some cheered, others jeered
But the reactions couldn’t have been more split.
Paul Brown, a 57-year-old Army veteran from Adams County, Ohio, made the trip to DC two days early and showed up in full fanfare — a t-shirt showing Trump with the words “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president,” and a war vet cap to match.
“We absolutely got somebody in there who gives a s**t about the military,” Brown told the Washington Post. “These parades should have been going on for years.”
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance made a quick cameo, noting the day wasn’t just about Trump and the troops. It also happened to be his wedding anniversary with second lady Usha Vance.
It was Flag Day too — the day in 1777 when Congress adopted Betsy Ross’ iconic Stars and Stripes.
