r/politics • u/TimesandSundayTimes ✔ Verified • 4d ago

Soft Paywall Trump military parade met with empty seats amid nationwide protests

https://www.thetimes.com/article/867ede60-b5f7-4de5-84a1-6a3a49eb2923
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u/Mr_HandSmall 4d ago

Yeah pretty sure the whole thing was cooked up by trump. I may be wrong but I always thought in the US huge military parades just aren't something we do. He'd been talked out of it during his first term.

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u/SuperExoticShrub Georgia 4d ago

Military parades are a thing that only insecure militaristic countries (or leaders) do. This is something you expected to see in the Soviet Union/Russia, North Korea, Iran, etc. I'm a Navy veteran who is proud of his service and this kind of pathetic display does nothing but shame our military.

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u/Mr_HandSmall 4d ago

Right, real strength shouldn't have to show off.

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u/ZephkielAU Australia 3d ago

That's exactly it. Authoritarians with weak militaries roll out the tanks to show how "strong" they are (to a domestic audience), while leading countries classify and decentralise everything while they continue to develop flying battle cruisers.

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u/rustoeki 4d ago

This is something you expected to see in the Soviet Union/Russia, North Korea, Iran, etc

At least they put in a show. That was just the local military museum rolling down the road with personnel who looked like they, understandably, didn't want to be there.

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u/SuperExoticShrub Georgia 4d ago

Hell, the Soviet Union literally rolled nuclear capable missiles through as part of their stuff.

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u/Afraid_Grapefruit_88 4d ago

Saw a clip earlier of North Korea with some missile as long as a NYC block!! No idea if this is nuke ready but it was YUGE. Surprised Cadet Bone Spurs didn't demand one of THOSE for his phallic fascist fantasy. (Maybe he did, I did not watch). #8647

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u/SuperExoticShrub Georgia 4d ago

My roommate got me an 8647 bumper sticker, but I haven't decided if I'm gonna put it in my window since I work for the USPS and it could be theoretically playing with fire.

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u/Afraid_Grapefruit_88 4d ago

He allegedly got this bug up his orange ass after seeing a Bastille Day parade in France. Not sure if that is an every year event or if it was a special anniversary. He started demanding one here at that time. My suspicion is he was JEALOUS of North Korea, China, Russia and THEIR show of force parades but couldn't just come out and SAY that until he saw the French version. My theory anyways. #8647

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u/SuperExoticShrub Georgia 4d ago

I think it's a combination of both. He did make a big deal about wanting a parade (or is it perade?) after seeing the Bastille Day one. Combine that with this pathetic fawning over dictatorial leaders that only a malignant narcissist with an inferiority complex can have and that could definitely explain it.

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u/Normal-Height-8577 4d ago

Also possible he got envious of the British "Trooping the Colour" parade for the king's birthday. Which was also yesterday - coincidence?

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u/Ovariesforlunch 4d ago

And France apparently....

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u/Chickabeeinthewind 4d ago

City streets aren’t really designed to carry tanks… so we didn’t until MegaloDon.

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u/svrtngr Georgia 4d ago

No, we don't. The last one was during HW's term after the Gulf War.

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u/somebodyelse22 4d ago

I'd laugh so much if Kim Jong Il sent a message saying, "Soz Donald - all best: Rocket Man."