Hillary Clinton’s attempt to criticize President Donald Trump’s military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary sparked widespread backlash on social media, with many accusing her of displaying contempt for the armed forces.
On June 14, 2025—Flag Day, Trump’s 79th birthday, and the Army’s 250th founding anniversary—thousands of soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft participated in a major parade along Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. The administration reported strong turnout, with over 250,000 people traveling to the capital for the festivities, which included flyovers, marching bands, and public celebrations. The event’s cost was estimated between $25 million and $45 million, later refined by the Army to around $30 million for core operations.
The following day, Clinton posted on X a side-by-side “compare and contrast” of images from the parade and nationwide “No Kings Day” protests. She described the parade as a “low-energy Dear Leader parade (that cost you $45 million)” and praised the demonstrations as “millions of people across the country gathering peacefully to say: Here, we have no kings.” She included photos of a military flyover near the Washington Monument, tanks on the avenue, and protest scenes from cities like Los Angeles and Houston. Clinton disabled replies on the post.
“No Kings Day” protests occurred in numerous cities, opposing both the parade and the Trump administration’s deportation policies. While many remained peaceful, some in places like Portland and Los Angeles turned violent.
Conservative commentators quickly pushed back. Benny Johnson and others accused Clinton of hating the troops. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson wrote, “We don’t have queens either. We have a duly-elected president…which you’ll never be.” Critics also referenced past events, such as Benghazi, and noted the irony of rejecting “kings” on a day celebrating American independence traditions, with one user pointing out that July 4th already marks the rejection of monarchy.
The backlash intensified when observers highlighted Clinton’s own weekend activities. While posting her critique, she was attending the lavish Hamptons wedding of her longtime aide Huma Abedin to Alex Soros, son of billionaire George Soros. The star-studded event drew Democratic heavyweights including Bill Clinton, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Anna Wintour, and others. Clinton had spoken enthusiastically about the celebration in a Vogue interview.
Social media users mocked the contrast: a taxpayer-funded military tribute to the Army’s milestone versus an elite private wedding. One commenter asked, “How was the Soros wedding? Chilling with the liberal royalty sounds like fun on No Kings Day!”
Clinton’s post reignited debates over patriotism, military respect, and political optics. Supporters viewed it as pointed criticism of perceived authoritarianism; detractors saw it as elitist disdain for the nation’s armed forces on a historic anniversary. The episode underscored deep partisan divides, turning what was meant as a sharp jab into a moment of significant online pushback.
