Trump Says He'll Show Off The US Military In Parades
Source: Talking Points Memo
By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published JANUARY 18, 2017, 9:10 AM EDT
Donald Trump plans on displaying the United States military's strength when he becomes president by having troops march in parades.
Being a great president has to do with a lot of things, but one of them is being a great cheerleader for the country, Trump told the Washington Post in an interview published Wednesday morning. And were going to show the people as we build up our military, were going to display our military."
"That military may come marching down Pennsylvania Avenue. That military may be flying over New York City and Washington, D.C., for parades. I mean, were going to be showing our military," he continued.
Trump made the comments while talking about his campaign and its slogan, "Make America Great Again." He revealed an option for a slogan for his 2020 re-election campaign to the Washington Post.
Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-military-parades
underpants
(182,823 posts)What could possibly go wrong?
CatWoman
(79,302 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,742 posts)and banging it on the podium, a la Khrushchev.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)A lot of Dtrump's mindset is sounding like that.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)is what some folks are calling him...
bench scientist
(1,107 posts)dchill
(38,501 posts)To be correct.
DK504
(3,847 posts)raccoon
(31,111 posts)brush
(53,782 posts)MBS
(9,688 posts)I can't believe this is happening.
YvonneCa
(10,117 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)Where is the Urban Tractor Brigade?
GP6971
(31,163 posts)my son's university, Norwich University, is in this damn sham.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)You better delete your post.
😂
GP6971
(31,163 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)GP6971
(31,163 posts)he graduated a number of years ago and he and I think we should both own the university with the amount of money we paid!!
MBS
(9,688 posts)This is so different, to say the least.
Obama's also, of course, had US Army bands, etc. But then there were SO MANY OTHERS. High school bands, community groups of all kinds, native dancers, all kinds of people . . . I'll have to look at my old photos to refresh my memory on the details. But it was a full representation of America. And the parade went on forever.. until after the sun went down, which I remembered, because I was getting very cold at the end!
The 2013 parade must have continued at LEAST 3 hours. Trump's will only be 90 minutes. Is that due to his short attention span? Inability to stand the weather? (even though the presidential box is heated and covered)? Or - most likely, since I read that DC high school bands refused to participate, and I'm sure that they're not the only ones to decline the invitation- they had as much luck getting people to participate in the parade as they have for the concert..
YvonneCa
(10,117 posts)...very soon. I really hope for a small turnout to send him a message. Somehow, I think he'd just make excuses for whatever happens. He'll blame it on the weather.
alfredo
(60,074 posts)Most seem from the south.
Doitnow
(1,103 posts)news reels in the movie theaters of Hitler overseeing soldiers in goosestep parading by him. Hitler forced people of talent to entertain him, too. Didn't I hear Trump say he was going to have the military band playing at his inauguration? Seems like he has to use force to get his entertainment, too.
ChazInAz
(2,569 posts)A few years ago, I visited the dirigible air field in Nuremberg where that nasty little paper-hanger held those huge rallies. The place is a muddy wasteland and his reviewing stand is a decaying ruin. The great Reich's Stadium in the same city? It's decaying in place, untouched since the workers dropped tools near the end of the war: a cavernous, echoing reminder of bombastic nationalism gone mad. A portion of it is used as a museum and resource center for war crimes.
If Trump has even a slight inclination to personal reflection and inventory, he might want to keep that in mind.
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)St ronnie and tRump hanging in all camera angles.
calimary
(81,297 posts)Those parades around Red Square on May Day? With all the troops and artillery and big bombs on wheels circling Red Square? Hmm... wonder where he got THAT idea...
Mr. Evil
(2,844 posts)hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars for this useless display of... well... waste.
The only thing this will show is that Trump is only brilliant at one thing...
being stupid.
Doitnow
(1,103 posts)kairos12
(12,862 posts)off the troops Orange Julius.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)Parades are a pain in the neck. Only leadership, who don't march in parade are happy about them as they get all the praise as they watch from the stands.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)new Trump-approved uniforms? He can't think much of those drab, understated things worn now. Perhaps something more like this. When asked if he'd be visiting England, he started babbling about his admiration of their pomp and circumstance and started conflating his mother with the gueen. (Scary clown emerging...)
jmowreader
(50,559 posts)That thing would suck to set up the night before a parade.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)Or when he declares his first war. Which you know is coming. He of all presidents will be eager to get his "war president" credentials checked off.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)these guys. Kim Jong Un apparently favors a lot less display of medals than his father did.
NYC Liberal
(20,136 posts)The Nixon parallels (ego, paranoia, racism) continue.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)at all well with the public. Supposedly those ridiculous stage-prop hats were the first thing to go. Nixon's "palace guard" uniforms ultimately ended up being worn by the Southern Utah State marching band. Thanks for the ridiculous history.
Look at these poor Secret Service agents.
SeattleVet
(5,477 posts)Once in a while there was a bright spot, though...
When I was stationed at Plattsburgh AFB, NY in the mid-1970's some colonel decided he wanted a full retirement ceremony, including the pass-in-review of the airmen. We all get into our dress blues (probably the first time I had to wear them after Basic Training a few years before), go stand around, march in a circle around the parade ground, then stand at attention while they did the rest of the ceremonial things, handing out awards and plaques, speeches about how great a leader the guy was, etc.
The best part (for us, anyway, being mostly 20-somethings in the mid 1970's) was the choice of music. At one point when the higher ranking officers marched off of the podium, they began to play the "Liberty Bell March", one of John Philip Sousa's rousing marching masterpieces - but also, it was much better known to all the rest of us as the theme song from 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'.
Imagine, if you will, a few hundred mostly younger people, all dressed up (and can't go anywhere else right now), all struggling to keep from bursting out laughing. Lots of shoulders were seen shaking, and once in a while someone let loose with a giggle. The people on the podium probably never even knew what had set us all off - I seriously doubt that the people in command were huge Monty Python fans.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Trust me. NONE of them like parades.
On the other hand, they are all very, very good musicians.
Most people think the players in these bands are chosen from among the ranks of the Army, navy, etc..
Far from it.
The 'jobs" ( and that is what they are) are open by audition. There could easily be well over 100 applicants for a clarinet position.
JudyM
(29,250 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,112 posts)War is a method of production of profit for a small group of people.
Trump and Putin will join forces to fight a war somewhere, for this reason as well as a land grab for his business partner, Putin.
The worry is when does it go nuclear?
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Corrupt Trump IS insane.
gohuskies
(1,156 posts)What a sick s.o.b.
kairos12
(12,862 posts)Welcome to DU.
kairos12
(12,862 posts)gohuskies
(1,156 posts)The propaganda machinery Drumpf has assembled and the incessant telling of the Big Lie plus a willfully ignorant extremist faction of Tea Party bots is frighteningly similar. The lesson in Shirer's book needs to be broadcast loud and clear.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)Trump will take his marching orders from him.
MyOwnPeace
(16,927 posts)they're the only people he can get to show up!!!
FSogol
(45,488 posts)Generator
(7,770 posts)DU'ers are mind readers. That is literally what i was thinking down to the bad name for Trump.
dalton99a
(81,513 posts)Qutzupalotl
(14,313 posts)area51
(11,909 posts)GMTA
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)You saved me the trouble of googling and posting.
Paladin
(28,262 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Fritz Walter
(4,291 posts)...Who wore a military costume instead of a uniform.
... who used a bogus diagnosis of bone spurs in an as-yet-unidentified foot, to avoid actually donning a real uniform, picking up a weapon, and actually standing a post.
... and who continues to insult Gold Star Families, actual veterans, and service members.
Somehow, all of these have earned him a pass to become CIC, in ways that Kafka would have said, "No fucking way!"
Aviation Pro
(12,169 posts)Another fucking cheerleader in the White House.
A fucking five deferment poser.
His shit is going to get old pretty quickly with the services.
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)Gonna be a great 4th!
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)Just a hunch.
MindPilot
(12,693 posts)A bunch of people whose closest association with anything military was watching Saving Private Ryan will wave their little flags and cheer.
onethatcares
(16,168 posts)purple heart bandaids
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)down the streets.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)So it's more of a play to his fascistic dumbfuck base than anything
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)We don't glorify the military because it is a tool we use, not something to be worshiped and possibly used by.
demigoddess
(6,641 posts)cheap. Lots of money spent on nothing but show. God, how stupid.
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)exboyfil
(17,863 posts)I think appear a significant portion of local parades around the country. They are great ambassadors for our armed services and very respected. We also usually have vets who also march recognizing their service to the country. We also have the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. We have air shows, military fly overs, and color guards at most major sporting events. We have Fleet Weeks. We have National Guard and Reserves who also march in parades. What the hell is he talking about.
As another poster has said, active duty military have their own jobs. Let them work on their training, logistics support, medical support, and combat.
Roland99
(53,342 posts)UpInArms
(51,284 posts)jalan48
(13,869 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,720 posts)and more of a military junta.
democrank
(11,095 posts)I certainly support our troops, but must we have this G. I. Don chest beating?
Joe Bacon
(5,165 posts)TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)kysrsoze
(6,021 posts)Renew Deal
(81,860 posts)Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)Kim Jong-un
Vlad Putin
Xi Jinping
brooklynite
(94,585 posts)not fooled
(5,801 posts)The lampposts are already there
sarge43
(28,941 posts)There are special units that do nothing but ceremonies all over the country, parades, concerts, air shows, etc.
However, seeing you don't know shit from apple butter about the armed forces, I can understand your confusion.
orangecrush
(19,569 posts)On the Honor Guard.
It sounds to me like Trump is talking about something beyond the inauguration.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)Among his many other appalling characteristics, he has the attention span and memory retention of a cockatiel. Further, he has no idea how the armed services function; it's not a collection of his lackeys.
In short, he's just mentally masturbating yet again. It sounds good to him, so it must be twue ... and Yuge.
orangecrush
(19,569 posts)In my lifetime, I have never seen a president elect act with such total arrogance.
I think we may have a real problem this time.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)I haven't felt this concerned since Reagan was making "jokes" about first strikes.
lark
(23,102 posts)Drumpf scares me far worse, and Cheney is pure evil.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)Creatures like Cheney and Trump live in a bubble. They seem to believe that money and power would somehow protect them. Fundamental physics and chemistry may take a little longer to do their voodoo on them, but they would. A bank account or title gives no protection against gamma radiation.
dhol82
(9,353 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)They all said, "Huh? Whatever."
dhol82
(9,353 posts)They'll get it.
LOVE cockatiels. Sadly, I can't have them anymore. Got violently allergic to bird dander after I had a pair. Still wish I had mine. Would just have to have them behind glass.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)Sweet natured, silly little clowns, love to hang out with their persons
dhol82
(9,353 posts)not fooled
(5,801 posts)He does have a knack for promulgating tasteless, gaudy spectacles that appeal to the lowest common denominator
Oneironaut
(5,500 posts)He is the center of the universe, and we're all here to appease and amuse him. All politicians have their head up their arses, but Trump is an extra foot or so further up the rectum.
NickB79
(19,246 posts)Like his Russian buddies used to do.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)As said, another one of his wet dreams -- "They're big, YUGE! Just like me!
Cleaning out that rat's nest that subs for his 'mind' would keep a regiment of shrinks in business for years.
DFW
(54,397 posts)Look at how popular Bill Clinton was around the world as opposed to Reagan.
Look at how popular Obama was around the world as opposed to Bush Lite
Think how cheerful 20 million Americans will be to hear they are losing health insurance (seeing a few thousand troops and missiles REALLY ought to compensate for that).
Think how cheerful American women will be to be forced into coat hanger abortions again (seeing a few fighter jets roar overhead in formation REALLY ought to compensate for that).
Last hint: if anyone thinks spending a few gazillion dollars to put on Soviet-style military parades is going to cheer anyone except the ones in the stands being saluted, they are misinformed.
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)I'm an atheist. We are fucked! This man is a degenerate Dictator wannabe.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,854 posts)If he ever tries to repeal the 1st Amendment in some way, that will be the clincher!
It's obvious that he doesn't like dissent... just like Hitler didn't.
http://www.dw.com/en/the-law-that-enabled-hitlers-dictatorship/a-16689839
Once Germans realized that any anti-Hitler or anti-Nazi comments could get reported to the Gestapo and get them killed, it was over.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)LeftinOH
(5,354 posts)How many parades does any President ever get? Will he be occupying himself with parade planning? Under Trump, the USA is a big show, for which he will be the Executive Producer.
nancy1942
(635 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,173 posts)belongs in solitary confinement
onetexan
(13,041 posts)I hope our military generals defy this illegitimate president and march to their own tune to protect our country. This moron is an American disgrace the world over.
Wounded Bear
(58,662 posts)What would Putin do?
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,854 posts)who used to warn him back in the 70's about what he perceived as infatuation with the military in the USA.
The physicist witnessed the rise of Hitler in his youth and he argued it mostly happened because Germans were pro-military nuts.
My brother didn't take him too seriously -- e.g., "That can't happen here."
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)JudyM
(29,250 posts)sabbat hunter
(6,829 posts)goose-stepping down Pennsylvania Avenue?
Bayard
(22,075 posts)Lot's of tacky gold. Shiny. And a big, TRUMP embroidered in several places.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,854 posts)dgibby
(9,474 posts)all gold, of course, with lots of medals and braid. We are so screwn!
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)dgibby
(9,474 posts)HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)Goose stepping and mandatory citizen attendance?
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)Or is this just for advertising?
Locrian
(4,522 posts)Cha
(297,271 posts)earthside
(6,960 posts)... we will have to wait and see what actually transpires.
I'm just about done reading Hannah Arendt's 'The Origins of Totalitarianism' and while we are still quite far away from the totalitarianism of the Nazis and the Bolsheviks, there are very clear indications that Trump and the Trumpians are strongly trending in the that direction.
It is interesting to read the importance Arendt puts on lying as part of the totalitarian state.
We are in big, big trouble, folks.
Freethinker65
(10,023 posts)Continuing to honor veterans and new recruits in small community based parades, and displays of military capabilities in air and water shows is much more effective. Trump does not understand the power and influence of nuance and subtlety.
exboyfil
(17,863 posts)are citizens first and soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen second. It is the right model.
About the only thing we don't have are ICBMs rolling down the street. Air Shows and Fleet Weeks already display an impressive array of military equipment.
hatrack
(59,587 posts)I'm sure that among the many things the Numbnuts-In-Chief doesn't know is what tanks do to asphalt and concrete.
Moron.
angrychair
(8,699 posts)More ultra-nationalist adoration of the military.
We already have military bands and vets that march in parades but that is not what he means. He is saying exactly what it sounds like, active duty military and military hardware being paraded down Main Street.
harun
(11,348 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)kacekwl
(7,017 posts)green plastic army men and play in his room with Barron.
IronLionZion
(45,447 posts)"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
There were people who wanted to make Germany great again, and Italy, China, North Korea, Russia, etc.
kimbutgar
(21,155 posts)He marches his troops as a show of force.
It's scary and obvious he is listening to his putin boss.
progree
(10,908 posts)vkkv
(3,384 posts)All other failing and failed states.
Very scary.
neeksgeek
(1,214 posts)I've always wanted a president who would play "my missile is bigger than yours."
Motley13
(3,867 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)to be seeing more military force being shown. Maybe some will not call it Martial law but get used to seeing more police or military types wondering around with guns and keeping sharp eyes and ears out for what we say and do. Military parades are just "see what I have and can use against you at my whim"?
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)and at community events. Risking equipment and personnel to stoke your ego in what is a PR stunt isn't worth it.
Small displays by those units living in our community is what binds us together. Many are in demand, like the bands.
Blue Idaho
(5,049 posts)Civilian groups are free to decline his invitations to save his inauguration from looking like a flop - but the military has to respond to their new boss.
muntrv
(14,505 posts)MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)Very Soviet, strong man, etc.
matt819
(10,749 posts)This is what third world countries and dictatorships do.
I hope the Pentagon puts a stop to this in its tracks. It's a waste of time & money. It's beyond idiotic.
braddy
(3,585 posts)mentalsolstice
(4,460 posts)It will have the bestest sash and very very magnificent medals. Gold medals created just for him.
Nitram
(22,803 posts)bora13
(860 posts)someone must have told him mistakenly that the military doesn't already drill and march enough.
Parker DeWitt
(28 posts)Nixon tried to dress up the White House security staff. It lasted about a month. The old uniforms must be in a closet somewhere:
dalton99a
(81,513 posts)jmowreader
(50,559 posts)Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Who needs health care when you've got PARADES! WHOO HOO! GO PARADES!
TygrBright
(20,760 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,816 posts)titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)And it seems every big sporting event has fighter jet flyovers, Naval Days in various port cities, etc.
Paladin
(28,262 posts)This will not end well.....
yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)Hekate
(90,705 posts)louis-t
(23,295 posts)I thought it was a joke.
rtracey
(2,062 posts)And the Russian soldiers will be goosestepping down Pennsylvania avenue followed by their tanks
klook
(12,155 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,563 posts)Charming. I wonder if Vlad is on board with this.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)jonno99
(2,620 posts)Every self-respecting service member I know HATES to be in parades.
lark
(23,102 posts)Or will Drumpf just dream that they are doing that while he plots and schemes to make it so?
Vermijelli
(76 posts)jumptheshadow
(3,269 posts)What a way to boost the city's morale!
The Wizard
(12,545 posts)Kim Jong Don?"
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,123 posts)CRK7376
(2,199 posts)and retirement ceremonies. Waste of time for the troops.....stand here, eyes right heaven forbid you pass out due to the heat or locking your knees in place.....
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)All the services have Field Bands and ceremonial units. That is all the Old Guard unit in VA does. These are professional musicians and some of the best at their craft in the country. One of my relatives spent his Army tour in a Field Band and went on to play with the symphony, pops and best jazz and big bands in his community after he got out.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)They learn and practice precision drill movements. They're very, very good at what they do.
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)My dad pointed out to look at the rank insignia on their sleeves. Most are top or close to the top of NCO scale and also have the stripes on the end of their uniform sleeves that show how many years they've been in military. IIRC, 1 stripe = 4 or 5 years.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)Yeah, the more stripes, the more time in. The promotion system turns red in tooth and claw about half way up the greasy pole (E-6). So, the zebras have drive and staying power.
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)Those stripes turn from red to gold after the 3rd or 4th one, iirc.
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)Here's a link to just the USAF band and music. I'd say the bands are probably one of the best kept secrets of DoD. http://www.music.af.mil/
cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)Donald Trumps big mouth and ability to exhale hot air?
jmowreader
(50,559 posts)You're thinking of the US Army Field Band. The Old Guard is an infantry regiment (its true unit designator is the 3rd U.S. Infantry) that does mostly ceremonial duties in the National Capitol Region...their job is also to defend the NCR against enemies foreign and domestic, so when NATO finally tires of his shit and sends the Bundeswehr Fallschirmjäger and the British SAS to bring Trump to justice, the first people they'll have to fight off will be the Old Guard.
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)They are a ceremonial unit, although iirc, they were called to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan due to the shortage of other combat ready units. I'm pretty sure they have a fife and drum corps.
http://www.oldguard.mdw.army.mil/regiment.
Brother Buzz
(36,440 posts)flvegan
(64,408 posts)bhowle
(35 posts)a very snappy looking military uniform to wear around.
dalton99a
(81,513 posts)tblue37
(65,391 posts)JI7
(89,250 posts)flags
(7 posts)I honestly expected this . I would not be surprised if he donned a uniform.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)Military Industrial Complex. Let's 1st find out where trillions of dollars have gone missing at the Pentagon.
hatrack
(59,587 posts)And he's said some pretty stupid shit.
Unbelievable.
iluvtennis
(19,861 posts)briv1016
(1,570 posts)Points for picking which one they choose. Here's a hint. a lot of individuals have already done it and posted the video online.
bucolic_frolic
(43,173 posts)the 1930s and the 1950s
QC
(26,371 posts)Zambero
(8,964 posts)Perhaps more DOD funding could be directed to VA patients, instead of staging a militaristic dog and pony show for the purpose of further gratifying Trump's bloated ego.
Javaman
(62,530 posts)or like this?
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)meadowlander
(4,395 posts)on pain of court martial.
Vinca
(50,273 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,057 posts)Boy does time fly. Who knew the May Day show of force parade was Friday?
blueseas
(11,575 posts)Will someone please leak more info before we are turned into Russia light?
alarimer
(16,245 posts)Piece of shit really wants to be dictator. Guess what, Trump, WE HATE YOU!
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)He needs to be stopped. I don't know how, but he really needs to be stopped.