While most Americans are worried about the militarization of Washington, D.C., in advance of Trump’s June 14 parade, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) appears to be absolutely thrilled.
In a post that reads like a gym rat’s love letter to authoritarian aesthetics, Greene praised the current state of the nation’s capital, writing, “Having the military here is the BEST!!!”
Her post also said, “As a long time CrossFitter and former owner, I absolutely LOVE seeing this on the lawn here in Washington DC!!” It added, “I’d rather have the military here in our nations capital and along our borders defending our nation, then fighting other countries wars!!
‘Go talk to your war mongering boss’
Green’s post came as armored vehicles rolled through the streets of D.C. for Trump’s parade amid unrest in L.A. and planned protests. Meanwhile, thousands of troops have been stationed throughout the city.
Bulldozing the rose garden—literally
While Greene is busy praising pecs and push-ups, the Trump istration is doing actual landscaping damage. According to reports, bulldozers were spotted in the White House Rose Garden this week as part of a controversial redesign effort.
This comes after the garden, originally restored by Jacqueline Kennedy and later modified by Melania Trump, had already been a point of public criticism. The latest iteration appears to involve tearing out historic plantings in favor of a more austere layout.
Critics argue that the destruction of the garden is symbolic of broader cultural and institutional damage, but Greene doesn’t seem bothered.
Military presence raises eyebrows
Though Greene might be swooning over uniforms and biceps, the presence of active-duty troops in D.C. has sparked alarm among legal scholars and civil rights groups. Some warn the deployment could signal a normalization of military intervention in civilian governance—something historically considered a red flag in democratic societies.
The Pentagon has stated the troops are in place to ensure order following national protests and unrest, but their presence near the Capitol and Supreme Court steps has prompted comparisons to military rule.
Referring to Trump’s planned parade, GOP maverick Rand Paul said, “I’ve never been a big fan of goose‑stepping soldiers in big tanks and missiles rolling down the street… So if you asked me, I wouldn’t have done it. We were always different than the images you saw of the Soviet Union and North Korea. We were proud not to be that.”
Aesthetic authoritarianism?
Greene’s CrossFit commentary may sound absurd, but it taps into a deeper trend on the far right: conflating brute force with virtue and governance with spectacle. While roses are being ripped out, Greene seems perfectly content to swap democracy’s symbols for flexed deltoids and riot shields.
The juxtaposition of bulldozers in the Rose Garden and troops on the Capitol lawn paints a picture that’s less Norman Rockwell and more boot camp cosplay. But for Greene, it’s all apparently part of the “Best” America. And if you’re wondering what democracy looks like, Greene would probably just point to a shirtless guy doing kettlebell swings in front of the Capitol dome.
Published: Jun 13, 2025 01:44 pm