According to biographer Michael Wolff, President Donald Trump harshly criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the military parade held on June 14 that marked both the Army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 79th birthday.
Appearing on The Daily Beast Podcast, Wolff said Trump was extremely upset about the parade’s overall mood and faulted the soldiers for appearing overly joyful during the event, which took place on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. Reportedly, Trump had wanted a more intimidating show of military strength rather than the lighthearted celebration that occurred.
Wolff’s account suggests Trump believed the soldiers undermined the image he hoped to project by waving and smiling, displaying what he viewed as a friendly demeanor rather than a formidable military presence.
On social media, the parade faced criticism for its low turnout and soldiers marching out of step. Observers noted empty seats along the parade route and described the soldiers’ marching as lethargic.
Wolff also reported that Trump lashed out at Hegseth in an intense phone conversation after the parade, repeatedly questioning how the event had been organized and demanding to know who was responsible for what he saw as an inappropriate atmosphere. According to Wolff, Trump specifically pressed Hegseth for names of those who coordinated the parade and held them accountable for the casual tone.
The biographer suggested Trump had wanted the event to reinforce his image as commander-in-chief of a powerful, fearsome military force. Instead, Wolff said, the parade sent a message of joyful commemoration rather than the stern show of strength Trump apparently envisioned. Wolff further noted that attendees seemed more focused on celebrating the Army’s 250-year legacy than marking Trump’s birthday.
The parade coincided with widespread “No Kings” protests, which, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, drew millions across more than 2,100 gatherings nationwide. The ACLU estimated that between four and six million people demonstrated against Trump’s policies on the same day as his birthday events.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung sharply refuted Wolff’s account, calling the author “a lying sack of s***” and dismissing the claims as pure fabrication. Cheung accused Wolff of making up stories and suggested he suffered from what he called Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Despite these reported private grievances, Trump publicly described the parade as highly successful. Speaking to reporters on June 15, he said the event exceeded expectations and attracted a great crowd, adding that though forecasts called for rain, the weather remained clear.
Wolff put the parade’s real attendance at about 40,000 people, while Trump claimed, without offering evidence, that more than 250,000 attended the multi-million dollar event. This sharp contrast in numbers underscored the differing views on the parade’s success.
Charlotte Clymer, a U.S. Army veteran and former member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”), told Buzzfeed that she doubted the reports of “poor marching” were because some units lacked experience.
Clymer said it was clear to all involved that the parade was organized for Trump’s benefit—and even those soldiers who might have supported him realized it was meant to boost his ego. She added that she personally would not want to march just to make someone else feel better about themselves.
She stated that she didn’t view the lackluster performance as a protest against Trump or as connected to anti-fascist sentiments or concerns about the government. Instead, she believed the soldiers felt disrespected, fatigued, annoyed, and probably frustrated, which affected their motivation to perform well during the parade.
