Bangladesh, June 3 -- A personal parade for a Presidents self-glory, a new Presidential airplane which has been described as a “flying palace” amid corruption accusations. This is not the description of some “Third World” dictatorship (as part of the Global South was called during the Cold War years). This is America.

On June 14, 2025, the US is set to host a grand military parade in Washington, DC, ostensibly to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army. Yet, the date coincides with President Donald Trumps 79th birthday, a detail that has sparked widespread controversy and reignited debates about the state of American democracy. This spectacle, featuring thousands of troops, tanks, and aircraft, is projected...