Trapped by Hype: Trump’s Parade and the Protest Power

As Trump supporters wilt under the sun and draw sparse crowds, millions pour into “No Kings” marches nationwide

Hey Small Biters,

On the morning of Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, supporters gathered along Constitution Avenue expecting spectacle—tanks, jets, a strongman’s show of patriotism. What they got was heat, delays, and emptiness. Though the government spent over $45 million on the event, the crowd turnout was strikingly sparse. Dozens of rows of bleachers sat mostly empty. A few loyalists stood sweating in the sun, waiting for something grand to justify their discomfort.

Despite the buildup around a $45 million parade featuring tanks, military vehicles, and flyovers, the turnout was unexpectedly low. Empty bleachers lined Constitution Avenue, and even prominent attendees like Melania Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared disengaged—at times checking phones or nodding off amid the anticlimax

Those who came early found themselves waiting hours with little shade or support. There were long lines, few refreshments, and minimal amenities. Attendees described dehydration, confusion, and general misery. Despite the investment, the energy on the ground was subdued. Even Melania Trump and other VIPs appeared listless, disengaged—more captive than celebratory.

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Trump himself, known for his flair for optics, appeared briefly in a bulletproof box above the crowd, waving without speaking. It was a pageant in the mold of strongman theater, but without the crowd to cheer it into legitimacy. By the time the flyovers happened, most camera angles worked hard to avoid showing just how many seats were unfilled.