‘We only have a country because we first had an army’: Trump praises US Army as ‘greatest fighting force ever’ celebrates 250 years

President Donald Trump addressed troops at Fort Bragg on Tuesday to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, which will culminate in a “Grand Military Parade” in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. 

“This week, we honor 250 years of valor and glory and triumph by the greatest fighting force ever to walk the face of the earth, the United States Army,” Trump told a large crowd, which included members of the public gathered at the North Carolina base.

“For two and a half centuries our soldiers have marched into the raging fires of battle and obliterated America’s enemies. Has never been anything like it. There’s never been a force like this. …  

“You know that better than anybody: from June 1775 to June 2025 those foolish enough to challenge America’s Army have been met with unyielding strength, unbreakable spirit and unstoppable, overwhelming force. Time and again, our enemies have learned that if you dare to threaten the American people, American soldiers will chase you down, crush you and cast you into oblivion. That’s what happens.”

Before delivering his remarks, the president watched Army demonstrations nearby with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Earlier in the day, the president told The Lion and other reporters Saturday’s military parade will “celebrate our country for a change” and if it were not for America’s effort in World War II, “you would be speaking German right now.”

His comments came in response to a question from The Lion about what message he might have to adversaries as the U.S. Army celebrates its 250th birthday. 

 “I just think it’s amazing, we’re going to have a fantastic June 14th parade, Flag Day,” Trump said from behind his desk in the Oval Office. “We have planes, we have all sorts of things, and I think it’s going to be great. We’re going to celebrate our country for a change.”  

Trump praised America’s troops for winning World War II and said the country should celebrate the victory.   

“If it wasn’t for us, you would be speaking German right now,” he said. “And you might be speaking Japanese, you might be speaking a combination of both. We won the war, and we’re the only country that didn’t celebrate it, and we’re going to be celebrating big on Saturday.”  

He also issued a stark warning to potential rioters and protesters ahead of Saturday’s “Grand Military Parade,” which is expected to draw a crowd of hundreds of thousands in a celebration of 250 years of the U.S. Army.

In his Fort Bragg remarks, Trump addressed the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to help with the riots in Los Angeles – a decision that has received sharp criticism from many leftist California politicians.

“What you’re witnessing in California is a full blown assault on peace, on public order and national sovereignty carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags with the aim of continuing a foreign invasion of our country,” he said. “We’re not going to let that happen.”

The president also announced the restoration of names of numerous bases renamed during the Biden administration. The restored names include: Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee. Fort Bragg had also been renamed Fort Liberty before the Trump administration returned to calling it Fort Bragg in February.

Featured image: Alex Brando/AP (used under license)