According to reliable reports, Donald Trump is deeply dissatisfied with the recent military parade in Washington, D.C., that celebrated his birthday.
The troops did not march in close order and appeared “festive” rather than “menacing,” in his view, for which he blames Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Also, the parade had meager attendance. Despite official claims of a turnout of 250,000, the actual figure was more like 40,000. Troops were seen marching in front of nearly empty bleachers, a humiliating spectacle.
Worse still, the announcement of the plans for the parade stoked a massive response from Trump’s political opponents. “No Kings” demonstrations, attracting perhaps five million participants, were held in hundreds of American cities.
Again, a humiliating spectacle for Trump and his minions.
But why, at a cost of some $45 million, did Trump insist on this highly controversial display, certainly unique in recent memory? Why the mass of battle tanks, camo-clad troops and jet fighters?
Perhaps the inspiration was no less than Adolf Hitler, the foremost fascist of the 20th century, for whom Trump has been known to express a certain admiration in private.
Not that our president aspires to commit mass murder or to ignite a world war. But who could doubt that the narcissist Trump craves and would relish the slavish obedience and abject servility that Hitler commanded from the German citizenry? Who could deny that the Donald dreams of Nuremberg-style rallies?
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Trump!
And it is a matter of historical record that on April 20, 1939, Hitler’s 50th birthday, the largest parade in German history was held in Berlin to honor the Fuhrer. For four hours, 50,000 troops and 162 warplanes strutted their stuff before an assemblage of hundreds of thousands.
In contrast, Trump’s poorly attended event had only 6,700 troops and about 50 planes. If there is another of these, no doubt it will be bigger.
Mussolini, too, had a penchant for military parades. What is now called the Via dei Fori Imperiali, a broad boulevard that connects the Piazza Venezia in Rome to the ancient Colosseum, was built by the Duce expressly for this purpose.
But those who glorify war and menace the sovereignty of their neighbors wreak havoc and catastrophe, and fare poorly in the end. Both Hitler and Mussolini met horrifying deaths, having left their nations defeated and demolished, the pariahs of the planet.
It would be both inaccurate and unfair to accuse all Republicans of being doormats for Trump, as, clearly, not all are.
A partial list of those who have severely criticized the Donald would include Mike Pence, Mitt Romney, Chris Christie, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse and the late John McCain.
But to those who have the judgment and the ability to oppose Trump but lack the courage to act, one can only have pity. If, in fact, Trump destroys the nation and the Constitution, it will be on their watch.
The Republican Party must do better.
Joseph Tipler
Centralia
