Why Trump's military parade is so controversial | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Military Parade: A display of military might, often associated with victory or national pride.
• Executive Power: The authority vested in the President to enforce laws and manage the government.
• Authoritarianism: A political system characterized by strong central control and limited political freedoms.
• Political Polarization: The divergence of political attitudes toward ideological extremes.
• Checks and Balances: A system where different branches of government limit each other's power.

1. Protests Against President Trump and the Military Parade

• Large-scale protests occurred in major US cities (New York, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco) against President Donald Trump.
• The protests, under the slogan "No Kings," accused Trump of authoritarianism and militarizing democracy.
• The protests coincided with a large military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the US Army's 250th birthday and Trump's 79th birthday.
• Protesters viewed the parade as an ego boost for Trump and a misuse of taxpayer dollars.

2. Reasons for the Military Parade and Historical Context

• Trump has desired a military parade since his first term, aligning with his focus on spectacle and imagery.
• Historically, military parades in the US have been less frequent since World War II due to fewer clear-cut military victories.
• Modernly, military parades are often associated with dictatorial or totalitarian regimes (e.g., Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, North Korea, China).
• Some view such parades as expressions of insecurity rather than strength, given the US military's global reach.
• The last US military parade was held by President George Bush in 1991 after the Gulf War.

3. Concerns About the Politicization of the Military

• There is growing concern that the military is being used as a political prop.
• Trump's visit to an Army base in North Carolina turned into a political rally, with attendees selected based on political allegiance.
• The politicization of the military is considered a more significant issue than the military parade itself.

4. "No Kings" Protests and Executive Power

• The "No Kings" protests were a coordinated series of demonstrations timed to counter the military parade.
• The protests aimed to highlight concerns about the expansion of executive power under the Trump administration.
• Organizers sought to create a "split screen effect" to contrast the military parade with public outrage over Trump's policies.
• The protests reflect a broader concern that the balance of power in American democracy is being threatened.

5. Political Violence in Minnesota

• A state senator in Minnesota and her husband were killed in a politically motivated attack.
• Political violence is not new to American history, but concerns are heightened in the current polarized environment.
• The details of the attack and its connections to broader political tensions are still under investigation.

6. Key Quotes

• Protester: "We have a king in his court and his beige henchmen and they're trampling on our rights and our laws and our freedoms."
• Protester: "Obviously we're doing it because it's his birthday. If it wasn't his birthday we wouldn't be doing it."
• DW Reporter Steven Beardsley: "This administration especially the second term of Donald Trump has really been characterized by boundary pushing executive power."

7. Technical Terms and Concepts

• Executive Power: The power of the President to enforce laws.
• Checks and Balances: The system that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
• Political Prop: Using the military for political gain or symbolism.

8. Synthesis/Conclusion

The events described reflect a period of heightened political tension in the US, marked by protests against perceived authoritarianism, concerns about the politicization of the military, and anxieties over the expansion of executive power. The military parade, intended to celebrate the army and perhaps the president, instead became a focal point for dissent and highlighted deeper divisions within American society. The political violence in Minnesota further underscores the intensity of the current political climate.