Critics Mock Trump’s Military Parade Speech Over “Fake” Applause

Donald Trump’s 79th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C., included a lavish military parade for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary—but one moment from his speech drew ridicule. During his brief address, Trump declared, “We’re the hottest country in the world,” and warned enemies that “our soldiers are coming for you.” But viewers were more focused on the crowd noise.

Critics online quickly pointed out that the cheers sounded artificial, accusing broadcasters—particularly Fox News—of boosting audio to simulate enthusiasm. “It sounded like someone was sliding the volume bar,” one Reddit user mocked. A sound engineer even claimed the cheers didn’t match an outdoor setting, calling them “embarrassingly fake.”

Others pushed back, saying audio differences could come from mic placement. Still, skepticism remained.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung claimed over 250,000 people attended, but major news outlets reported much smaller turnouts. Meanwhile, protests erupted in Philadelphia, where demonstrators called the parade “excessive” and “un-American.”