1 week ago Trump’s war with Iran signals perilous shift from showman to strongman

The emergence of Hawk Trump dismayed some of his Maga base but students of US adventurism were unsurprisedSo the military parade that brought tanks to the streets of Washington on Donald Trump’s birthday was more than just an authoritarian ego trip. It was a show of strength and statement of intent.Exactly a week later, sporting a “Make America great again” (Maga) cap in the situation room, the American president ordered the biggest US military intervention in decades as more than 125 aircraft and 75 weapons – including 14 bunker-busting bombs – struck three Iranian nuclear sites. Trump called it a “spectacular military success” – but it remains unclear how much damage had actually been inflicted. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Telling moment at Trump's military parade that gave away the state of his and Melania's marriage

President Donald Trump gave some rare insight into his marriage with Melania at the US Army's 250th birthday parade on Saturday.

Events

2 w. ago Donald Trump branded 'inconsolable' at birthday parade amid 'wasteful' celebrations

Donald Trump appeared 'inconsolable' as he attended a U.S. Army military parade in Washington DC on Saturday (June 14), which also coincided with his 79th birthday

Politics

2 w. ago No kings, few fans: USA’s year of World Cups gets off to a flat start

Fifa’s much-hyped Club World Cup and Concacaf’s Gold Cup opened to crowds far short of what organizers might have hopedSign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson hereThat the two events should coincide was so perfect as to almost feel heavy-handed. Donald Trump’s comically underattended military parade lurched through Washington DC at the exact same time on Saturday as the overwrought opening ceremony unspooled for Fifa’s beleaguered Club World Cup, in a definitely-not-full Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.Trump’s jingoistic birthday bust contrasted painfully with the multimillion-strong turnout at the “No Kings” anti-Trump rallies that gathered all over the country. The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, meanwhile – or “Johnny”, as Trump pronounces the name of one of his favorite allies in the sports world – had promised the opening match of the swollen tournament he forced down the soccer world’s throat would be sold out. Instead, attendance between Inter Miami and Al Ahly, a fitting 0-0 st...

Politics

2 w. ago Violence is coming to define American political life | Stephen Marche

Spectacular violence like Trump’s military parade and real violence like Melissa Hortman’s assassination are part of a growing trendAmerica reached its apex of self-parody shortly after 7pm on 14 June 2025. In that moment, the background band at Donald Trump’s military parade segued from Jump by Van Halen to Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival, just after the announcer explained that M777 howitzers are made out of titanium.Nobody, apparently, had considered the lyrics: “Some folks are born, made to wave the flag, they’re red, white and blue, and when the band plays Hail to the Chief, they point the cannon at you.” If this was some kind of surreptitious protest by the musicians, I salute them, but given the time and the place, sheer obliviousness is a better explanation. The crowd, pretty thin, did their best imitation of a cheer. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago MIKEY SMITH: 8 unhinged moments from Donald Trump's bizarre birthday tank parade

The long-awaited spectacle, on paper a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US Army, was sparsely attended - with far fewer than the expected 250,000 Trump fans turning up for his 79th birthday bash

Politics

3 w. ago Trump coveted a military spectacle but his parade proved underwhelming: ‘Just kind of lame’

Trump’s army parade was neither the totalitarian North Korean spectacle that critics had grimly predicted, nor the triumph of Maga nationalism fans cravedOn Saturday, as a crowd of thousands of people near the Washington Monument listened, a loudspeaker dramatically announced the names of the US secretary of defense, vice-president and president. The final name received a modest roar that surely flushed the watching commander-in-chief with validation. With that, and with the boom of a 21-gun salute, the military parade that Donald Trump had coveted for years finally began.A protester, Nicky Sundt, kept a lonely and mostly silent vigil at the side of the road. She held a sign depicting a cartoon Trump brushing back his comb-over to reveal a swastika emblazoned on his forehead. The placard said “Save our democracy”. Standing near her – as a “counterprotest to the counterprotest to the protest, or something,” as one of them put it – a group of pro-Trump men held court. One was draped i...

Events

3 w. ago JD Vance’s wedding anniversary takes backseat to Trump birthday and military parade

JD Vance mentioned that it was his wedding anniversary at the end of his speech during Donald Trump’s military parade that coincided with the president’s 79th birthday on Saturday, 15 June.

Events

3 w. ago Israel hits Iran’s energy industry and defence ministry as conflict escalates

Iranian missiles evade Israeli air defences to hit refinery and apartment block south of Tel AvivMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael attacked Iran’s energy industry and defence ministry on the third day of an escalating conflict, as several Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to hit a refinery and rip through a high-rise apartment block south of Tel Aviv.As fuel depots outside Tehran blazed, Donald Trump presided over the US’s biggest military parade in decades. He later said the arsenal on display could be deployed against Iran if it targeted American assets. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Melania's true feelings about Donald Trump parade – as he 'falls asleep' on camera

Body language expert Judi James has revealed what the First Lady was really thinking during her husband's birthday parade over the weekend

Politics

3 w. ago Melania's true thoughts about Donald Trump parade – as he 'falls asleep' on camera

Body language expert Judi James has revealed what the First Lady was really thinking during her husband's birthday parade over the weekend

Politics

3 w. ago Satanic abortion clinic named in honour of Donald Trump opens on his birthday

As Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday at a massive military parade in Washington DC – their first in 30 years – a group of Satanists opened another abortion clinic

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump 'falls asleep' amid military parade on president's 79th birthday

Donald Trump was proud to show off his country's military might on Saturday but photos taken from the area appeared to show the US President drifting off throughout the day

Politics

3 w. ago What Melania was REALLY thinking at Donald's big parade...and which cabinet secretary seemed 'bored'

A body language expert has revealed to DailyMail.com what Melania was really thinking during Saturday's military parade.

Politics

3 w. ago MIKEY SMITH: I went to Donald Trump's birthday tank parade and it convinced me he already thinks he's a king

Over a couple of hours, 7,000 troops, dozens of tanks and other vehicles, swarms of helicopters and two robot dogs rolled, flew and ambled past Trump's podium as he apparently struggled to stay awake

Politics

3 w. ago Eight killed in Iranian strikes on Israel as Trump threatens Tehran with ‘full strength’ of military if it attacks US – live updates

At least 35 missing after strike hits town south of Tel Aviv; US president also claims ‘we can easily get a deal done’ to end conflictIsrael claims it has gained control of airspace over TehranHours after presiding over an unprecedented military parade in Washington DC, Donald Trump has threatened that if Iran attacks the United States in any way, it would face the might of the US military “at levels never seen before.”In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also said the US had nothing to do with Israel’s latest attack on Iran overnight and that “we can easily get a deal done” to end the conflict. He wrote:The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!European leaders will seek an explanation about what persuaded Tru...

Events

3 w. ago Gathering stormclouds can’t wipe smile from Trump’s face as long

In scenes that could have been set in Moscow, families queued to sit in helicopters, while tanks and robot dogs paraded Constition AvenueIt may have been billed as a military parade to celebrate the American military’s history, but it said even more about the country’s present and future under Donald Trump.Soldiers, tanks and even robot dogs paraded along Constitution Ave. on Saturday, as paratroopers swooped in from overhead and military aircraft buzzed past the Washington Monument for the first major military parade held in the US capital since the victory after the first Gulf War of 1991. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump issues chilling warning to U.S. enemies at massive Army birthday parade amid chaotic 'No Kings' protests

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at Saturday's 250th anniversary for the U.S. Army, which also coincides with the president's 78th birthday.

Events

3 w. ago Trump military parade crowd size sparks fiery debate as arrests are made in No Kings protests

President Donald Trump presided over a military parade this evening in Washington, D.C., on a day which also happens to be his 79th birthday.

Events

3 w. ago Donald Trump 'falls asleep' at his own military parade for 79th birthday

A photo making the rounds on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows Trump sitting upright with his eyes closed, apparently snoozing while the military parade is in full swing

Events