Letter to the Editor: While He Parades, We Organize

The following letter to the editor was submitted to InsideNOVA.com by Steve Baker, Chair of the Arlington Democrats.

This Saturday, a military parade will roll through Arlington and Washington, D.C.—6,600 troops, 150 armored vehicles, and a projected $45 million price tag. Though we honor all of our men and women in uniform and our flag’s rich history, President Trump has turned the parade into a self-indulged, over-the-top, taxpayer-funded spectacle. That’s not patriotism—it’s political theater.

At a time when many families are feeling the squeeze—from grocery prices to everyday expenses—the president is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to flatter his own ego. His tariffs are taxes on consumers, and federal layoffs have hit our community hard. Virginia is projected to lose 32,000 jobs this year, with especially deep impacts in counties like Arlington that rely on federal employment and government contracts. 

Instead of offering relief, the administration’s extravagant birthday display will shut down flights at Reagan National and damage our city streets. Combined with a budget proposal that adds record debt and deepens inequality, this president is building a legacy as one of the most reckless and self-serving leaders in modern American history.

We believe in a different show of strength—one rooted in service, community, and the essential work of democracy. While tanks roll through D.C., some of us will be knocking on doors, others will be raising our voices in protest. So this Flag Day, as we honor our service members, we invite our neighbors across the region to reject the president’s narcissism and excess—and work to elect leaders like Abigail Spanberger, who reflect our community values: service, compassion, and progress.

Real power isn’t bought—it’s earned. It’s earned in how we show up for one another, how we vote, and how we stay engaged even when the cameras are gone. In Arlington, we’ll keep showing up and doing the fundamental work of democracy, together.