A U.S. Army veteran has spoken out following the backlash over what many online critics have called the “worst marching” they’ve ever seen during Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
The June 14 event, held to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army (which also coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday), has drawn widespread ridicule on social media, with countless viewers pointing out the uncharacteristically disorganized and poorly timed movements of some of the participating soldiers.
What was meant to be a patriotic celebration quickly divided opinion on social media - with speculation, memes, and criticism shared as clips of the ceremony circulated online.
In several viral videos, uniformed troops can be seen marching out of sync, uneven spacing, and a general lack of cohesion. This led many to question whether the lackluster performance was accidental or intentional.
“Recruits in boot camp march better than this,” one X user commented, adding that the entire formation looked like it had “no desire to be there.”
Another wrote: “This is the worst marching I’ve ever seen. Are they trolling him [Trump]?”
The speculation didn’t stop there. Several commentators suggested the disarray was a subtle protest by the military itself, an institution that has often stressed its apolitical role, against Trump, per NPR.
"It feels like a big 'f**k you' to Trump from the soldiers," one X user wrote.
To better understand what might have gone wrong, BuzzFeed News spoke with a retired Army veteran named Michael (last name withheld), who served multiple deployments overseas and participated in numerous ceremonial parades. According to him, the criticism is not unwarranted, and what viewers saw on camera was “absolutely not normal.”
“That was some of the most unprofessional marching I’ve ever seen from a U.S. military unit,” Michael said. “It wasn’t just a bad day. Something was off. Either they weren’t given time to properly rehearse, or they didn’t want to be there. Or both.”
He noted that parade formations are typically drilled repeatedly for weeks leading up to any major public appearance, especially one expected to draw national attention. The lack of polish and precision suggested to him either a rush job, or something more deliberate.
“In the military, how you march reflects discipline and unity. If it looks chaotic, that sends a message,” Michael said. “And in this case, that message may be, ‘We’re not here for political theater.’”
“You don’t need to wave a flag to serve your country,” Michael said. “But if you’re going to put soldiers on display, you better respect what that display means. Otherwise, you get exactly what we saw: troops marching, but not in step.”
Adding to the spectacle, some social media users speculated about Melania Trump’s appearance at the parade, reigniting the long-running “Fake Melania” body double conspiracy theory.
Footage showing her smiling and being somewhat animated led some viewers to question whether it was really her, while others focused on how visibly disengaged she appeared at various moments during the event.
Some of the latest images from the parade, where Melania was spotted smiling broadly and appearing unusually engaged, only added fuel to the fire. “A Melania Trump Body Double is a conspiracy theory I 100% believe,” one poster declared on X.
Of course, there is no credible evidence supporting the theory. Despite this, it looks like it will continue to be a theory that the FLOTUS will repeatedly face upon her public appearances.