On Saturday, the US government threw a military parade in Washington, DC to celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary. It also happened to be President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Reportedly, the Army has been planning an anniversary celebration for two years, but a parade was only added after Trump, who has long desired such a spectacle, entered office. Concurrently, a series of No Kings protests across the country objected to Trump's policies, including his deployment of the National Guard and Marines to combat anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles.
Ryan Tedder – the OneRepublic frontman who’s worked on hits from Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and many more – has opinions about it. In comments posted to his Instagram Story, the songwriter/producer said his family has a history of military service dating back to the Revolutionary War, and he's bummed that instead of celebrating the army, people are in the streets protesting. Here's what he wrote:
I have around 20 family members & grandparents that all fought in wars from the revolutionary war (actually) thru to WWII /Korea.. all politics & parties and righteous indignation aside it's a super bummer that instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army and all those who have fought and died on our behalf... We're protesting. I haven't been a card carrying political member of either side for 20 years & think at this point everything is absurd 99% of the time... But I'd like to say THANKYOU to all of the Army service members active and retired and those who have given their lives to protect our freedom...to protest.
It sure seems like Tedder could have thanked the troops without slagging protestors. But if the man's takes are tone-deaf, no one can say he's not consistent; his band's most recent hit was three years ago on the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack. (Yes, I realize the Top Gun people are Navy, not Army.)
