Radio Atlantic The Real Problem With Trump's Parade
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Jun 13, 2025 
Tom Nichols, a seasoned military analyst and staff writer for The Atlantic, explores the implications of a politically charged military parade. He discusses how Trump’s tactics might be shaping public perception of the military and the dangers of politicizing its role. Nichols addresses the complexities of deploying troops to LA during protests, unveiling the tensions in federal-state relations. The conversation also highlights how such crises may be engineered to influence civic engagement, urging the importance of active participation in democracy.
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Military Parade as Power Display
- Trump's military parade is not just a celebration but a display of power and control over the military forces.
- It symbolizes the president asserting authority to use troops against domestic protests, signaling political intimidation.
Politicizing the Military at Fort Bragg
- Trump's speech at Fort Bragg was a partisan rally, not a traditional military address.
- It dangerously politicizes the military, contradicting longstanding American military traditions of nonpartisanship.
Military Presence in Streets Undermines Values
- Acclimating Americans to military presence in streets erodes foundational American values of civilian military separation.
- Using tanks in city streets signals a dangerous normalization of militarization in domestic life.