CBS Mornings’ coverage Monday of the military parade President Donald Trump hosted for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on Flag Day showcased the new narrative liberal media was trying to spin on the story. Earlier coverage attempted to push the notion that this parade was really a celebration of the President’s birthday, an authoritarian show of force akin to those in North Korea. But after the parade, which was, much to the liberal media’s surprise, just a parade celebrating the 250th birthday of the Army, it was no longer considered a threat, but rather a flop compared to liberal protests.
CBS reporter Nikole Killion immediately targeted the attendance rates of the parade, hoping to show that this event failed to impress: “The White House claimed over 250,000 showed up, but there were plenty of empty seats and spaces along the National Mall. Some left early as potential storms threatened the event.”
While the White House’s numbers may be somewhat skewed, the 250,000 estimated attendees would have still exceeded the original prediction of 200,000 spectators even if not exact. But rather than credit the turnout, Killion downplayed the event.
Of course, as CBS harped on how attendance was low, they continued to highlight concerns over the high costs. As Killion explained it: “The price tag for the parade is estimated between $25 million and $45 million with the Army agreeing to pick up the tag to any damage to D.C. roads because of those heavy tanks.”
This estimated $45 million cost was not just being frivolously thrown out by Trump to celebrate his birthday as the media liked to make it out to seem. In reality, as was expressly stated time and again both before and during live coverage, the parade was intended to have a positive effect on the Army’s recruitment efforts.
The media wanted to make it look like your taxpayer dollars were going to waste, being spent on a birthday celebration for a dictator. But in reality, this was a far more effective use of money than past Army recruiting efforts, such as an $11 million deal between the Army, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, and the UFL, a deal that reportedly resulted in not even a single new recruit.
As both a celebration of our armed forces and an effort to keep our military strong, the cost would appear more than justifiable. But the media still did not want people to think of it this way. The turnout for the parade was often juxtaposed Monday with the high attendance for anti-Trump “No Kings” protests.
Naturally, the turnout for hundreds of protests around the country would be higher than a single parade, but this was somehow painted as evidence of Trump’s failings. Host Gayle King emphasized this talking point:
If you were paying attention to the news this weekend, and we hope you were, you were getting a very different image of how Americans are feeling about the state of our country. Hundreds of anti-Trump rallies around the country brought out millions of Americans. In the meantime, the President was outside the White House. He was presiding over a military parade on the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, and it also happened to be his 79th birthday.
CBS was unwilling to accredit any patriotism to the event, only focusing on the fact the event coincided with the President’s birthday. Liberal media did not want to encourage recruitments or show support for the military, they only wanted to repeat their same old talking points.
The transcript is below. Click ":expand" to read.
CBS Mornings
June 16, 2025
7:13 a.m. EST
GAYLE KING: If you were paying attention to the news this weekend, and we hope you were, you were getting a very different image of how Americans are feeling about the state of our country. Hundreds of anti-Trump rallies around the country brought out millions of Americans. In the meantime, the President was outside the White House. He was presiding over a military parade on the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, and it also happened to be his 79th birthday.
(…)
7:15 a.m. EST
TONY DOKOUPIL: Jonathan, thank you very much, appreciate it. There was one city, one city at least, where the “No Kings” movement did not march on Saturday. And that city was Washington, D.C., one of the big ones. Instead our nation’s capitol saw thousands of soldiers marking the U.S. Army's 250th birthday. President Trump presided over that parade. It was his birthday, as well. Costs up to $45 million. Nikole Killion has this part of the story.
(Cuts to video)
NIKOLE KILLION: On the streets of Washington, a showcase of military might. Complete with tanks and paratroopers from the Golden Knights –
ANNOUNCER: The AH-64 Apache.
KILLION: – Flyovers, and fireworks. It was a day full of spectacle and salutes to honor the U.S. Army's 250-year history. Spanning the Revolutionary War all the way to the modern era and future of the service. Taking it all in, President Donald Trump, who also happened to turn 79 on Saturday.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Thanks to their extraordinary service and devotion, 250 years later, America stands tall, America stands proud, and America stands free.
KILLION: The White House claimed over 250,000 showed up, but there were plenty of empty seats and spaces along the National Mall. Some left early as potential storms threatened the event.
TRUMP: They gave it a 100 percent chance of rain, and it didn't rain at all. It was beautiful.
KILLION: For those in attendance, no dampened spirits –
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Our country has the greatest history on the planet, of the world's greatest fighting force.
KILLION: – Just a chance to thank those who serve.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2: We all need to give back. Hey, we're American first, not blue or red.
KILLION: The price tag for the parade is estimated between $25 million and $45 million with the Army agreeing to pick up the tag to any damage to D.C. roads because of those heavy tanks.
(Cuts to live)
DOKOUPIL: All right, Nikole, thank you.