Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton found herself at the center of a heated online debate following a social media post that appeared to mock President Donald Trump's recent military parade. The parade, part of a ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., featured an extensive military display, complete with aerial flyovers, parachute jumps, and a concluding fireworks show. The event was attended by Trump alongside First Lady Melania Trump and occurred on Saturday, after weather conditions improved following brief showers.
In response to the military celebration, Clinton tweeted a comparison of the parade's scenes with images from "No Kings Day" protests in Los Angeles, suggesting a contrast between Trump's "low-energy Dear Leader parade" and peaceful gatherings advocating for a rulerless society. The phrase "Dear Leader" is commonly associated with North Korean leadership and is understood as a reference to authoritarianism. The post, which Clinton published on June 15, 2025, immediately attracted criticism from conservatives and veterans who interpreted her words as a slight against the armed forces.
Social media users, particularly those with conservative leanings, swiftly rebuked Clinton. Gunther Eagleman labeled her "an evil woman," while Eric Daughtery accused her of harboring "hate for the troops." Benny Johnson, another conservative commentator, expressed alarm at how close Clinton came to assuming the role of commander-in-chief, given her apparent disdain for the military.
The backlash against Clinton's tweet was amplified when she restricted the ability to reply to it, a move many critics viewed as an attempt to dodge public scrutiny. Some detractors used the occasion to resurrect the controversy surrounding her involvement in the 2012 Benghazi attack and her use of a private email server, with references to the 800-page report released by the GOP-led House Benghazi committee in 2016.
Clinton's past contentious remark during the 2016 campaign, in which she described half of Trump's supporters as a "basket of deplorables," was also recalled by her critics. Although she later expressed regret for her "grossly generalistic" statement, her latest post reignited claims that she remains contemptuous of Trump supporters and those who value military traditions.
As of Monday, Clinton had not publicly responded to the criticism nor elaborated on her remarks regarding the Army event. The U.S. Army's 250th-anniversary celebration, while one of many across the country, drew significant attention due to both its grandeur and the subsequent political storm ignited by Clinton's tweet.
The controversy highlights the ongoing polarization in American politics, where even tributes to the military can become fodder for partisan disputes. Clinton's tweet and the reactions it provoked underscore the deep divisions that persist between supporters of the current administration and those who remain critical of its leadership and symbolic gestures.
