On Saturday, President Donald Trump encountered a wave of online criticism following his military-themed birthday parade, which took place near the iconic Washington Monument. This event was intended to celebrate not only Trump’s birthday but also the significant milestone of the 250th anniversary of the United States military. However, it was met with a dishearteningly small crowd and considerable protests, compounded by inclement weather conditions that featured steady rain.

The turnout at the National Mall appeared to be far lower than anticipated, as the rain deterred many spectators from attending the festivities. Observers noted that the crowd was so sparse that it resembled a quiet weekend afternoon rather than a grand celebratory event. Estimates suggest that the parade, which was funded with a staggering budget of approximately $45 million, featured a variety of military elements, including numerous troops, tanks, and historical reenactors portraying soldiers from various wars.

Unfortunately, the weather played a significant role in dampening the event. Many planned aerial flyovers, which are typically a highlight of such parades, were canceled due to the adverse weather conditions. Those that did take place were largely obscured by thick cloud cover, leaving spectators disappointed. Furthermore, due to the forecast predicting worsening conditions, the parade commenced 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Social media reactions were swift and often mocking. One Twitter user pointed out the sparse attendance, stating, “That's not far from a busy weekend afternoon on the Mall size crowd. If you're able to throw around a football without annoying people, it's not a big crowd.” Another user added humorously, “HAHAHA! The crowd for Trump’s birthday parade is TINY! They claimed 200,000 people would show up and it doesn’t even look like 1,000 showed up. How embarrassing for MAGA! No Kings blew this out of the water!!!”

Additionally, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, an established fellow at the American Immigration Council, shared his observations on social media, noting, “Having been to several large events on the Mall in my years living in DC... that is not a big crowd. Oof.” Despite the rain and the criticism surrounding the event, Trump maintained a positive demeanor, smiling and waving to the attendees from his seat as troops paraded down Constitution Avenue.

The procession included US soldiers attired in historical military uniforms from significant American conflicts, showcasing the nation’s military heritage. However, the hefty $45 million price tag for the event does not account for potential damage to the roads caused by the heavy military vehicles. Army officials indicated that they would be responsible for covering these additional expenses, which could range from $3 million to $16 million.