President Donald Trump reportedly blamed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the disappointing turnout and tone of a military parade held Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C., according to biographer Michael Wolff.
The parade, designed to commemorate the Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, fell short of the president’s expectations for what he envisioned as a menacing display of military power. Instead, Trump received what Wolff characterized as a festive celebration that failed to project the intimidating image he desired.
Speaking on The Daily Beast Podcast, Wolff revealed that Trump was particularly upset with the soldiers’ demeanor during the event. The president reportedly accused the troops of appearing too cheerful and friendly rather than maintaining a stern military bearing. Wolff indicated that Trump believed the soldiers were waving and enjoying themselves, displaying what he described as a convivial face rather than a military one.
According to Wolff’s account, Trump confronted Secretary Hegseth in a heated phone call following the parade. Wolff claimed Trump told Hegseth that “the tone was all wrong” and demanded explanations about who had staged the event. Wolff described Trump as repeatedly questioning why the parade failed to convey his intended message of commanding a powerful military force.
The parade attracted significant criticism on social media, with observers noting that soldiers appeared to be marching out of sync as they proceeded down Constitution Avenue. Thousands of soldiers flanked by tanks passed largely empty bleachers, creating a stark contrast to the grand spectacle Trump had envisioned.
The White House claimed that over 250,000 people attended the birthday parade, a figure Wolff disputed based on accounts from people he knows who were present. The biographer suggested the actual attendance was closer to 40,000 people, describing the inflated number as information Trump specifically wanted publicized through spokesperson Steven Cheung.
The event carried an estimated price tag of $45 million, making the sparse attendance particularly notable. Critics had previously questioned the substantial cost of the parade, which was not included in the original February press release announcing plans to celebrate the Army’s anniversary.
Weather conditions may have contributed to the lackluster atmosphere, as social media users observed a muted environment that appeared to match the gloomy skies. Despite Trump later claiming that forecasters had predicted a 100 percent chance of rain that never materialized, the event was reportedly affected by precipitation.
The parade was overshadowed by nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations that took place simultaneously across the country. These protests, organized in opposition to Trump’s policies, reportedly drew millions of participants in over 2,100 rallies and demonstrations, according to organizers from the American Civil Liberties Union.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded aggressively to Wolff’s claims, dismissing the biographer as unreliable and accusing him of fabricating stories. Cheung characterized Wolff’s account as a product of imagination driven by what he termed Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Publicly, Trump maintained that the parade was successful, telling reporters on Sunday that the event had been tremendous with a fantastic audience. He continued to reference the parade positively during his appearance at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where he mentioned the weather predictions to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump’s desire for a major military parade traced back to his first presidential term, when he expressed admiration for France’s Bastille Day parade in 2017. His previous attempts to organize such an event were frustrated by concerns about damage to Washington streets from heavy military vehicles and escalating cost estimates reaching tens of millions of dollars.
The parade concept persisted despite past controversies surrounding Trump’s alleged comments about military personnel. The Atlantic had previously reported claims that Trump referred to fallen troops as “suckers” and “losers,” allegations Trump has consistently denied but which were later confirmed by former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
Wolff suggested that Trump’s frustration stemmed from the parade’s failure to project the intimidating military image he sought to convey as commander in chief. The biographer indicated that attendees appeared more focused on celebrating the military’s 250-year history than Trump’s birthday, contributing to the disconnect between the president’s expectations and the event’s actual tone.
