Today is Flag Day in America. It’s also the 250th birthday of the United States Army—a milestone that should be marked with pride, reflection, and gratitude for two and a half centuries of service.
But instead of celebrating with their comrades, veterans, families, and fellow citizens, the Army is being used—commandeered, really—to put on a birthday parade. Not for the institution. Not for the troops. But for one man: Donald Trump.
Despite the Army’s best efforts to frame this differently, this parade would not be happening if it weren’t for the fact that Donald Trump is celebrating his birthday today. Let’s be honest—he's the only one who wants it. He's the only one who cares.
He doesn't care about the millions of taxpayer dollars being wasted on this spectacle. He doesn't care about the soldiers sweating in the Washington summer heat—preparing, executing, and tearing down an event designed not to honor their sacrifice, but to serve his ego.
Donald Trump isn’t a soldier. He had his chance and dodged it—flat feet, of course. What he is today is a man-child playing dress-up as a strongman. And what we’re watching isn’t American patriotism. It’s pageantry ripped from the playbooks of North Korea, the Soviet Union, and other regimes where parades prop up fragile, performative leaders.
You think it’s a coincidence? Trump admires those countries because their leaders demand loyalty, not earn it. And he’s emulating them.
But here’s the truth: strong leaders don’t need parades to feel validated. Real strength isn’t measured in tanks or flags. It’s measured in courage, humility, and service to others.
And that’s exactly why this spectacle feels so hollow. Trump’s signature programs are falling apart in court. Opposition is rising. Even Republican lawmakers are fleeing D.C. to avoid being seen at this charade. They know what this is. So do we.
This isn’t strength. This is vanity. It’s weakness disguised as power. It’s a deeply insecure man trying to convince himself—and the world—that he’s more than he is.
So no, this isn’t a celebration of American greatness.
It’s a symptom of American decay.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
We can choose a different path—one rooted in the values that have actually made this country strong: dignity, service, sacrifice, and truth.
So honor the flag today. Honor the Army. But don’t be fooled by noise and spectacle. America doesn’t need parades for one man. America needs leaders worthy of the uniform—and the people it represents.
Stand up. Speak out. And let’s build a country where patriotism means something again.
