On his 79th birthday, President Trump spent more than three hours on Saturday taking in the scene at a military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
The event, which was officially billed as a tribute to service and a showcase of American military history, was hailed by the president’s supporters as a show of strength and a savvy recruitment tactic.
But his critics argued that the event was a further politicization of the military, especially after of a tense week in which Mr. Trump deployed the Marines in Los Angeles to quell protests.
Here are key takeaways from the day and the parade:
The day’s events were overshadowed by political violence and war.
News on Saturday was dominated by a manhunt after the assassination of a Democratic state legislator in Minnesota and the attempted assassination of another.
For most of the day, speculation raged about the killing of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were both injured.
At the same time, warfare escalated between Israel and Iran, with growing concerns about the possibility of a wider, regional war that could draw in the United States and other major powers.
Throughout the day, news anchors pulled away from domestic news to show explosions in Tehran and rockets lighting up the sky over Jerusalem.
While celebrations unfolded in Washington, law enforcement and state officials in Minnesota were still scrambling to piece together the details of what they said appeared to be a politically motivated killing just hours earlier.
The bombings in the Middle East and the killings in Minnesota lent a far-graver tone to what already seemed sure to be a day of contrasts, with military vehicles rolling through the capital while mass demonstrations against the Trump administration roared in cities across the country.
The ceremony walked a careful line.
The schedule of events in Washington leaned strongly into themes of patriotism and gratitude for the Army on its 250th anniversary.
The festivities included a range of exhibitions, fitness competitions on the National Mall, a recruitment drive and showcases of historical uniforms and equipment.
Over hours of coverage, conservative commentators repeatedly framed the parade as an expression of appreciation for the armed forces, free of any political messaging.
“A lot are saying that the president is trying to make this somehow about himself because today is his birthday,” Jackie DeAngelis said on Saturday during “The Big Weekend Show” on Fox News. “The left always will take something and just find whatever they can to spin it into a negative place.”
But the program’s conscious choreography did not fully expunge the reality that Mr. Trump had pressed for such a display since his first term in office, despite objections from advisers and top Pentagon officials.
Toward the end of the evening, Mr. Trump gave an eight-minute speech thanking service members and defending the decision to go ahead with the celebration.
“Every other country celebrates their victories,” he said. “It’s about time America did, too.”
He then stood to receive a commemorative flag while the crowd sang “Happy Birthday.”
Context went unacknowledged.
Little about the event on Saturday seemed to address concerns among the president’s critics that his administration has politicized the military.
Less than a week before the parade, Mr. Trump deployed active duty Marines to Los Angeles to help quell protests, over the objections of California’s governor.
The next day, Mr. Trump delivered a partisan speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in front of uniformed troops, who booed when the president referred to his political rivals.
The Army is investigating how vendors selling “Make America Great Again” merchandise were allowed on the base’s grounds before Mr. Trump’s remarks.
Images from Saturday, such as soldiers helping attendees pose with heavy weapons, did little to ease critics’ concerns.
On social media and on television throughout the day, competing narratives emerged, with critics describing the display as representative of Mr. Trump’s willingness to use the military to promote himself and even to suppress dissent.
Many pointed in particular to the president’s decision to issue sweeping clemency to members of extremist groups and armed rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol building to keep him in office after he lost the 2020 election.
The spectacle was limited.
For an event that relied on mesmerizing production and an awe factor for spectators, a number of logistical obstacles and muted enthusiasm were palpable on the ground.
Reporters for The New York Times who attended the parade described an at-times underwhelming performance and crowds dispersing early amid a light drizzle.
Celebrants and military-history enthusiasts were treated to an air show, robotic dogs marching alongside troops, and live music by the country singers Warren Zeiders and Lee Greenwood, as well as exhibitions throughout the day.
Perhaps by design, though, the day was somewhat more restrained than other displays Mr. Trump has praised, such as Bastille Day celebrations in France.
Zach Montague is a Times reporter covering the U.S. Department of Education, the White House and federal courts.
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