Rain on Trump’s Parade

In 2019, Donald Trump hosted an event that he had hoped would display America’s military might and demonstrate his own strength. When Donald Trump wanted to roll tanks through the streets of D.C. six years ago, he was told they were too heavy. Instead, he settled for static tank displays and fireworks that were barely visible due to poor weather. In his first term, the guardrails of democracy literally and figuratively rained on Trump’s parade.

Six years later, all checks on Trump’s power have been eliminated with Republican complicity. Tomorrow, he’s holding the military parade of his dreams in honor of his 79th birthday and the Army’s 250th. This time, Trump has ordered hundreds of tanks – along with missiles and other heavy weaponry – to roll through the streets of DC. The $45 million price tag for Trump’s parade apparently includes street repairs, but who will fix the damage to our democracy?

Trump’s military parade is the real-life manifestation of his authoritarianism – he’s willing to destroy the foundation of our nation’s capital and our country, despite the collateral damage and steep price tag, so long as it’s in service to him. Meanwhile, Republicans enable it and do nothing to stop Trump despite feigning concern about government efficiency, spending waste, and abuse.

This week, we experienced further erosion of our democracy with Trump deploying the U.S. military to Los Angeles, escalating tension in an already volatile situation. Just as we saw with tariffs, Trump pretends to “fix” crises that he creates. This is absolutely the case in LA, which had largely peaceful protests that the city and state were handling. At no time were the National Guard or Marines required in LA, but Trump is aiming to justify invoking the Insurrection Act and creating a military state.

We also saw further erosion of democracy with Trump’s attacks on perceived political opponents, including the recent arrest of a Wisconsin judge and the Mayor of Newark, the indictment of New Jersey Congresswoman McIver, and yesterday’s egregious assault on California Senator Alex Padilla.

If Sen. Padilla can be tackled, pushed to the ground, and abrasively handcuffed while attempting to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, just imagine how so many others – American and non-American – are being treated by this White House. If Trump officials are physically restraining a senator doing his job, we are on a clear path toward autocracy, and it won’t stop there.

Just as JDCA did when we brought our voices and values to Capitol Hill this week – meeting with 48 members of Congress from 16 states with hundreds of you during our Week of Action – we must continue to stand up, speak out, and defend democracy. We are not powerless, and we encourage you to join us in standing with Sen. Padilla and calling for an investigation into his mistreatment.

The handcuffing and assault of Sen. Padilla are indicative of Trump’s handcuffing of and assault on American democracy. This may be what Trump wants, but we don’t have to give it to him, and perhaps there are higher powers that agree. Once again, rain is predicted for Trump’s parade. The National Weather Service is calling for heavy rainfall during the first 90 minutes of tomorrow’s parade.

Whether it’s joining a peaceful protest, speaking out, or resisting in your own way, we encourage you to join us – and the universe – to defend democracy and rain on Trump’s parade.