DISHONORING THE FLAG June 13, 2025
A military parade in Washington will mark Flag Day tomorrow when Donald Trump again dishonors the Stars and Stripes.
I love our flag. At its best, it stands for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—and equal treatment before the law—for everyone.
The parade supposedly will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. I have a warm spot in my heart for the Army. I served from 1966–69. An enlistee, I was graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning—renamed Fort Moore in 2023, then changed back under Trump. My OCS company paraded at our graduation ceremony—at Fort Benning, not in neighboring Columbus, Georgia.
The last military parade in Washington took place in 1991 following victory over Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, who had invaded Kuwait. George H.W. Bush was president. The affair cost about $12 million.
Tomorrow, 6,600 soldiers will march. Some 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft will take part. The Department of Defense’s cost estimate: $134 million.
The parade will send a distorted message. Trump sees our flag as representing the interests of the wealthy and rule by white Christian nationalists. His MAGA vision is an autocracy ruled by a mafia king who expects all citizens—and foreign heads of state—to bend the knee. The military should serve as his enforcer, except on occasions like January 6, when Trump deserted his post.
June 14 also marks Trump’s 79th birthday. He could hold a private party, serving guests Big Macs, fries and Cokes, along with birthday cake—on his own dime. But that’s small potatoes compared to commanding the stage at a big parade.
Trump seems hellbent on declaring, again, that he is America’s strong man, the man on the white horse, the occupier of the throne anointed by Jesus. During his first campaign, Trump proclaimed, “Only I can save America.” We’re witnessing a Napoleonic complex writ large. But while Trump is much taller than the five-foot-six-inch Napoleon, his moral stature is knee-high.
Bear in mind that Trump was captivated by a 2017 military parade that celebrated Bastille Day (July 14) in Paris. French and American troops marched down the Champs–Elysees. Likely, French president Emmanuel Macron believed he had to impress the new American president. With all due respect, France long has been a second-tier military power stripped of its colonies.
But if the culture-champion French can hold military parades, autocratic nations also can. You’ve likely seen videos of tanks, missiles and goose-stepping troops passing the reviewing stands of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jung-un. Doubtless, you’ve seen images of Hitler’s Nuremberg rallies.
It may be no coincidence that Trump federalized 4,000 California National Guard troops and ordered them, with 700 Marines standing by, to “protect” Los Angeles from people protesting a heavy-handed policy regarding undocumented immigrants. Newsflash: The L.A.P.D. and L.A County Sheriff’s Department are well-trained to handle such disorders.
The real purpose of the military presence? To frighten Americans in blue states and cities: Your town could be next. Martial law may follow.
Tomorrow, “No Kings” protests will take place across the nation. May they be peaceful and thus honor our flag. Boots on the ground in Washington, I fear, will take disturbing steps towards leaving Old Glory in tatters.
Update: Yesterday, Senior District Judge Charles R. Breyer in San Francisco ruled that federalizing of the California National Guard was illegal; control of the CNG should be returned to Governor Newsom today at noon. The administration immediately filed an appeal. We’ll see how this plays out.
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Interesting take, David. I’m particularly curious about your assertion: “Trump sees our flag as representing the interests of the wealthy and rule by white Christian nationalists.”
Could you please provide an original source? It strikes me as so completely at odds with everything I’ve seen over the past decade that I’d be really curious as to when and where Trump expressed that view. And it’s stated quite definitively as Trump’s view, not as some analyst’s opinion about what Trump’s view might be.
I always appreciate learning new things from original sources.
Glad to hear from you, Bruce. I agree with you that Trump says relatively little that might stick to him. But he surrounds himself with people espousing Christian nationalism, witness the recent prayer service at DoD and the many statements by administration officials and Congressional representatives along with evangelical leaders who publicize their faith when that should remain private. David French, an evangelical who writes in The NY Times makes a strong case on the Christian nationalist movement which Trump accepts. Be well.
@Bruce Abramson
Trump stated, “I believe my life was saved that day in Butler for a very good reason…I was saved by God to make America great again. I believe that.” He also mentioned that the bullet hit his ear, missing his head, and that his life was saved “by a fraction of an inch”.
Here’s the link to the video of him saying it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dac_uOOKL-Q
Yes, Sandy, I know Trump’s “link” to God. Frightening.
A few bullet points in support of David’s blog:
Nick Fuentes and Kanye West
“Fine people on both sides”
Project 2025
Stripping the names off of naval vessels named for gay and non-white icons
Re-renaming military bases for Confederate generals (traitors and oath violators)
“My beautiful Christians”
Expedited refugee status for Afrikaaners, but not for people fleeing real threats
I suspect I could come up with more, but this is at least illustrative of a White Christian nationalist agenda.
And then there’s Stephen Miller ( someone please revoke his bar mitzvah certificate.)
Thank you, David.
Hope it rains like hell!
On Trump, David, yet not on our troops. That would be something.
I checked the weather forecast – looks as if there will be some rain on that parade….
Even under a bright sun, Jean, the parade would rain on our flag.
I love my country. I love its flag. But I hate flag waving. It is the wrong message. Saber rattling is what this whole farce is about. HWSNBN has angered our allies and given comfort to our enemies. Why do “patriots” support him?
I believe, Penny, that flag-waving is a coverup. Self-professed patriots often have a limited view of what the country is and should be. They tend to be ethno-nationlist or those seeking to ally with those folks for self-protection.
I’m marching with the No King protest. Time to stop this fascists’ grab before it’s too late. How many more senators have to be thrown to the ground and handcuffed before we see what’s happening?
The military called against citizens peacefully protesting?
Rand Paul uninvited to an annual white house picnic because he doesn’t like the bill before the senate? This is beyond childish for a 79 year old man.
It’s scary and sickening at the same time. If we don’t stop it now, when will your turn be?
I will be at Civic Center, Sandy.