While the Economy Burns, Trump Plans a Parade

The military parade marking the 79th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Photo: Vladimir Gerdo, TASS

For those who know me, you know I’ve been sounding the alarm on Donald Trump’s behavior since his first term — particularly the tactics that mirror those in Russia and other authoritarian regimes. Time and again, Trump has made his admiration for autocrats —particularly Putin— crystal clear, and he’s shown a dangerous willingness to import those methods here in America. One of the red flags I raised during his first term was his desire to use the military as a personal tool of power and self-promotion. And this may be happening soon.

The Latest Red Flag

As Trump’s erratic tariffs tank the economy and recession alarms blare, and as Elon Musk — chainsaw man — guts the federal workforce under the phony guise of “efficiency,” destroying the livelihoods of countless public servants, including veterans, and dismantling vital veterans' programs, Trump’s attention is, once again, elsewhere.

Not jobs. Not governance. And definitely, Not stability.

He’s fixated on something else entirely — a dictator-style military parade right through the heart of Washington, DC.

It’s a fantasy Trump has harbored for years. He tried to stage a military parade in 2018 but was blocked over cost and logistics. This time, with no guardrails, a gutted federal government, and a cabinet filled with loyalists, he’s gearing up to try again. CNN reports the Trump regime is already in the early stages of planning the parade for June — a date that lands on both the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and his 79th birthday.

Let’s be clear — this isn’t about honoring the troops. It’s about feeding Trump’s ego and staging a spectacle of performative power — just like his bestie Putin.

It’s about wrapping himself in patriotic symbolism while gutting everything it’s supposed to represent.

An Authoritarian Spectacle, American Edition

In democracies, power is earned — through trust, accountability, open debate, and service to the public. In authoritarian regimes, it’s staged — with tanks, troops, and choreographed displays of force designed to intimidate, suppress dissent, and showcase raw power. Think Red Square. Tiananmen. Kim Jong-un’s missile parades in Pyongyang. Now Trump wants to bring that same spectacle to the National Mall.

Officials told CNN the parade would stretch from the Pentagon to the White House, featuring armored vehicles, tactical displays, and elite units like the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team. Though it’s still officially “pre-decisional,” planning is moving forward — and notably, it’s not being led by the Pentagon, but by the White House itself.

Strip away the stars and stripes, and what you’re left with is an authoritarian fantasy — a choreographed show of force designed not to honor America, but to elevate one man above it.

We’ve seen this coming. Trump has always wanted to make the military an extension of himself. In 2018, he drooled over France’s Bastille Day parade — or, more accurately, Putin’s Victory Day spectacle — and demanded his own version.

And let’s be clear… The Bastille Day parade is nothing like what Trump envisions. It’s rooted in republican values — a celebration of the people’s revolution and national unity, not the glorification of a single man.

The Deeper Threat Behind the Spectacle

Some will say this is just showmanship — harmless, patriotic posturing. That kind of thinking is not only naive, it’s dangerous.

Because the parade is the point.

It’s a public declaration of Trump’s vision for the country — one where democracy is hollowed out and replaced with spectacle, and the military becomes a stage prop to showcase his might and control. His second-term agenda already includes mass purges of the federal workforce, the weaponization of federal agencies, and a sweeping and illegal expansion of executive power.

This is a red flag waving in plain sight — and history tells us what comes next.

Trump has spent years praising autocrats. He’s applauded Putin’s “strength,” called Kim Jong-un “very talented,” and described Xi Jinping’s indefinite rule as “pretty good.” These weren’t offhand remarks — they’re aspirations. He doesn’t just admire their grip on power but is actively trying to claim it for himself.

And now, he wants to literally march that vision down Pennsylvania Avenue.

What starts as a parade doesn’t stop there. It becomes routine — military flyovers at rallies, loyalty pledges, and the creeping normalization of militarized politics — all designed to condition the people to accept control.

A Warning We Can’t Ignore

Marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary is, in itself, entirely appropriate. But doing so under the shadow of authoritarian symbolism, led by a man who attempted to overthrow an election, organized and executed a violent insurrection, and openly admires dictators, is a grave mistake.

This planning for the parade isn’t happening in a vacuum — it’s unfolding as Trump moves with vengeance, seizes control across all branches of government, dismantles institutions, and shows open contempt for democracy itself.

We’ve seen this playbook before. The fusion of militarism with political power is a hallmark of authoritarianism. It fosters loyalty not to the Constitution or the rule of law — but to the leader.

As this parade moves forward, we must demand it’s not hijacked into a campaign rally or a monument to one man’s ego. Our military is not a political weapon — and it must never be used to project personal power. That’s not the American tradition — and it can’t be our future.

Because in the end, this isn’t just about a parade — it’s about what kind of country we want to be.

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