President Donald Trump’s weekend parade wasn’t quite the extravaganza many had expected ― and critics such as conservative attorney George Conway couldn’t help but laugh at him over it. As millions gathered at anti-Trump protests around the nation, the president’s $45 million parade ― held on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army as well as his own birthday ― was marked by low turnout and even lower energy. Trump himself at times appeared bored as the day dragged on. Conway said Trump was hoping for the kind of spectacle seen in North Korea under dictator Kim Jong Un, then offered the president a tweak on that name: Kim Jong Loon.He wrote: Other Trump critics also compared the event to the type usually seen in places such as North Korea, with former Secretary of State and 2016 campaign rival Hillary Clinton calling it a “low-energy Dear Leader parade.”The day before the parade, California Gov. Gavin Newsom also made a North Korea comparison: Trump's parade is nothing more than a vulgar demonstration of just how weak he is.It's the kind of thing you see with Kim Jong Un, Putin -- dictators around the world that are weak and desperate.It's as small as it gets. But that's Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/0ehXPXdDhc— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 13, 2025And Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) not only compared the parade to the kind favored by dictators like Kim, but also used it as an opportunity to introduce legislation to prevent such displays in the future. Trump is throwing a $45 million birthday party in the style of Stalin, Kim Jong Un, and Putin. We’re not a dictatorship. That’s why I introduced the PARADE Act—so presidents can’t use the military as props or abuse taxpayer dollars. Happy birthday, Mr. President. pic.twitter.com/SRbZI0FufY— Rep. Marc Veasey (@RepVeasey) June 14, 2025Close