Overview

• The Army’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 79th birthday were marked by a military parade in Washington, D.C., but out-of-sync marching and a festive mood drew widespread criticism.
• Biographer Michael Wolff said Trump was angered by soldiers “hamming it up” and accused them of failing to project the menacing image he wanted.
• Trump reportedly phoned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to rebuke him for the parade’s tone and lack of coordination.
• The White House dismissed Wolff’s account as false, with Communications Director Steven Cheung calling him a “lying sack of s--t” suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
• President Trump has hailed the parade as a “tremendous success,” even as massive nationwide “No Kings” protests drawing millions in opposition overshadowed the event.