Trump's Military Parade Draws Mixed Reactions: Patriotic Display or Political Spectacle?

📰 Minnesota Shooting Suspect Arrested

Suspect in custody: Vance Luther Boelter, 57, was arrested Sunday evening after a nearly two-day, statewide manhunt—the largest in Minnesota's history. He surrendered by crawling out of hiding in Sibley County, barefoot and still armed  .

Attack details: Police allege Boelter posed as a law enforcement officer to access two separate homes. He fatally shot Democratic state Rep. (and former House Speaker) Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their Brooklyn Park residence. He also seriously wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their Champlin home  .

Evidence uncovered: Authorities found an arsenal in his vehicle—three AK-style assault rifles, a 9 mm handgun, ballistic vest, police-style badge, and a troubling “hit list” containing about 70 names of politicians and abortion rights advocates  .

Charges pending: Boelter faces two counts of second‑degree murder and two counts of second‑degree attempted murder; federal charges are also under review  .

Reactions: Governor Tim Walz denounced the shooting as a "politically motivated assassination"; President Biden, along with other leaders, condemned the violence  .

🇺🇸 Takeaways from Trump’s Military Parade

Historical scale & cost: Held in Washington, D.C., it commemorated the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and coincided with President Trump’s 79th birthday. The parade featured tanks, artillery, military aircraft, period uniforms, and over 6,000 troops. Costs were estimated at $25–45 million  .

Uneven reception:

Underwhelming public interest: Many seats went unfilled, and spectators described the event as "a little underwhelming," lacking the grandeur of authoritarian military spectacles  .

Technical flaws: Marching was criticized for poor synchronization and lack of energy—one social media commenter quipped that it looked like “prisoners of war are marching”  .

Polarizing optics:

Supporters: Trump claimed it was “about time America did” host such a display. Some veterans and spectators praised the parade for strengthening civilian connection to the military  .

Critics: The event sparked “No Kings” protests nationwide, accusing Trump of authoritarian tendencies and wasting taxpayer money. An AP–NORC poll found 60% viewed it as a poor use of funds; only 38% saw it positively  .