A grand military parade costing $45 million, intended to showcase national power and unite the public, instead acts like a prism, reflecting deep fractures in America and the contradictions of Trump's administration. This is not a simple celebration, but a power display that tears at national identity and shakes the foundations of constitutional governance.
Paradox One: Personal Worship Erodes National Symbols
Ritual Hijacking: Trump insisted on forcibly linking the Army's 250th anniversary parade with his 79th birthday, transforming a national celebration into a stage for personal worship.
Harsh Treatment Under Facade Projects: 6,600 soldiers were forced to bring their own sleeping bags and squeeze into the Department of Agriculture's offices for the night, with only one hot meal provided daily. To protect the roads from 60-ton M1 tanks, an extra layer of steel plates costing $3 million was laid—ironically, during the same period, the budget for veteran hospitals was cut by 23%.
Silent Protest Within the Party: 43 Republican lawmakers collectively absented themselves, politely declining with reasons like 'spending time with family', silently exposing their resistance to 'imperial-style behavior'.
Paradox Two: Show of Force Intensifies Livelihood Crisis
Suppression Before the Parade: On the eve of the military parade, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard and 700 Marines to suppress immigrant protests in Los Angeles. During the conflict, police fired 600 rounds of non-lethal ammunition and arrested 70 people.
State Rights United Pushback: This move triggered a joint support from 22 states for California, with Governor Newsom applying for an injunction in federal court, accusing of 'unconstitutional interference with state rights'.
Economic and Social Costs: The deportation policy has caused turmoil among the immigrant community, which accounts for 70% of California's agricultural workforce, leading to a 30% surge in fruit and vegetable prices. The $45 million spent on the parade could cover the annual education expenses for 3,000 impoverished children.
Paradox Three: Federal Power Tramples Local Autonomy
Constitutional Red Line Crossed: Trump invoked the (Insurrection Act) to deploy troops across state lines, marking the first federal enforcement since 1965, severely impacting the separation of powers and state rights tradition.
Local Strong Pushback: California mobilized the National Guard for confrontation, 22 states formed a 'State Rights Alliance', and calls for 'California Independence' surged again—this state accounts for 14% of the U.S. GDP ($3.7 trillion), with a Latino population of 40%.
Capital Votes with Its Feet: During the escalation of the conflict, large Bitcoin transfers surged by 37% in a single day, and stablecoin USDC trading volume skyrocketed by 58%, as funds rapidly fled the uncertainties of fiat currency systems.
Paradox Four: Dual Defeat of International Deterrence and Domestic Division
Collapse of International Image: The M1 tanks and fighter jets intended to deter China and Russia have been ridiculed by Russian media as 'military totems with peeling paint', and criticized by German media as 'symbols of authoritarianism'. The deterrent purpose completely failed.
Misallocation of Military Resources: Equipment was redirected from the Iraq frontline for the parade, causing logistical breaks for Middle Eastern allies. The Army's readiness rating dropped to a decade-low of C-.
Public Trust Lost: 62% of the public believe the military parade is a 'personal show', only 28% believe it can unite national identity. After the event, Trump's approval rating fell to a record low of 39%.
Conclusion: The steel torrent crushing the constitutional avenue, where is it heading?
As tanks symbolizing state violence rumble down the constitution avenue, a symbol of democracy, the place where the soul of America is anchored becomes unclear. This $45 million 'display of power' reveals not only financial waste but also profound fractures in the democratic system and a serious crisis in national identity. Should America's core values be defined by a torrent of steel, or defended by every citizen's right to speak freely? The answer hangs over this torn abyss.