Commentary: From Trump’s parade to ‘No Kings’ protests, the clash over what makes America great has only just begun

DONALD TRUMP FINALLY GOT HIS BIG PARADE

Since the end of World War II, military parades have been rare, but not unheard of in American history. The US did not hold national or major city parades after the Korean and Vietnam wars, though an 8,000-troop-strong victory parade rolled down Constitution Avenue after the Gulf War of 1991.

One would have to go back even further to the 1950s and 1960s to find a military parade for a US president. Dwight Eisenhower and John F Kennedy featured military segments in their inauguration parades, but no modern president has repeated this display.

Many observers borrow Mr Eisenhower’s thoughts to explain this: Having the US military imitate Soviet parades makes it look weak. Mr Trump, however, would beg to differ.

His desire for a military parade began during his first administration, especially after he witnessed the Bastille Day parade in July 2017, calling it a “tremendous thing for France and for the spirit of France” and suggested that he would “try and top it”. In May, he expressed irritation that France and Russia were commemorating the end of World War II with elaborate celebrations while America was not.

As he told the crowd after the parade in Washington DC: “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time that America did, too.”