WASHINGTON, D.C. — What was supposed to be a grand display of patriotism for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary — and a self-congratulatory birthday celebration for Donald Trump — turned into a national embarrassment this weekend. And nobody captured that humiliation more succinctly than lawyer and conservative Trump critic George Conway.
“[Trump] tried to play Kim Jong Un for an afternoon,” Conway posted, “but he’s still just Kim Jong Loon.”
The scathing nickname quickly took off online, as images of nearly empty streets, squeaky tanks, and confused spectators circulated across social media. The parade, which cost taxpayers up to $45 million and required extensive shutdowns in central Washington, was widely mocked as one of the most lackluster public displays in modern presidential history.
Despite Trump’s years-long obsession with authoritarian-style pageantry — particularly his admiration for North Korea’s military theatrics — the result was far from commanding. Instead, it drew comparisons to a cosplay dictatorship fantasy, complete with underwhelming turnout and the eerie silence of an embarrassed capital.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also took aim, calling it “Trump’s low-energy Dear Leader parade.” She contrasted the flop with the massive “No Kings” protests that took place across hundreds of cities the same weekend, drawing millions who oppose the president’s increasingly authoritarian policies.
Critics argue that the timing of the event couldn’t have been worse. The military spectacle unfolded amid ongoing unrest in Los Angeles, where Trump had recently deployed the National Guard and Marines to suppress protests. The aggressive domestic deployment has drawn condemnation from civil rights groups and even former military officials, who warn of the dangerous precedent being set.
Trump, however, remained defiant, touting the parade as a “tremendous success” on Truth Social — even as the footage told a different story.
“This isn’t leadership,” George Conway said in a follow-up post. “It’s cosplay authoritarianism performed by a man desperate for validation.”
For a president who has long thrived on visual dominance and media spectacle, the sparse crowds and internet ridicule were a devastating blow. And as “Kim Jong Loon” continues to trend, one thing is clear: no amount of tanks or red, white, and blue fanfare can disguise the hollow nature of Trump’s strongman act.
