Back in the US... back in the USSR...

1970s-80s Red Square, Moscow, was magically transported to Constitution Avenue, Washington, on Saturday as Comrade Trump celebrated his 79th birthday with pomp, parade and Paladin self-propelled howitzers. Finally, America joined countries like India, France, Pakistan and Russia that need to put its weaponry out on display to feel strong. After all, why go to a gym and then wear a burqa? The fact that America has the world's finest 'boys' toys' was reiterated in the 250th anniversary celebrations of creation of the US Army, which also happens to fall on the day Comrade Trump was created - although 'pro-life' MAGA supporters would put that date some nine months earlier. The function of a military parade, with the big bazookas out in the sun on a peaceful, cheerleading weekend is to reinforce that old Dhara Cooking Oil ad line: 'My daddy strongest'.

This was the first major military parade held in Washington since the US won the first Gulf War in 1991. 'Gun laws' just got a new level of adrenaline rush after this Mardi Gras of not-scantily-clad soldiers, tanks and robot dogs. Trump took the salute, while Melania clasped her heart, that would have delighted the Brezhnevs. But could the hyper-transactional president have another object in mind: putting up a ramp show of military hardware from the Washington Summer Collection 2025 line?