President Donald Trump faced widespread criticism following a major historical error during a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, where he incorrectly claimed that many countries had recently celebrated the end of World War I.
During his address at the military installation near Fayetteville, North Carolina, Trump stated that the United States did not participate in these supposed celebrations, despite asserting that America won the war. “Without us, you’d all be speaking German right now,” Trump declared during the speech.
Trump continued by suggesting that citizens might also be speaking Japanese, adding that America won the war and would celebrate on Saturday. However, this claim contains a significant historical inaccuracy, as Japan was aligned with the Allied forces during World War I, fighting alongside the United States, France, Great Britain, Russia, and Italy against Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.
The speech took place at Fort Bragg, which serves as headquarters for the military’s Special Operations Command and houses elite units including the Green Berets and Rangers. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll attended the event, which included both active service members and their families.
The timing of Trump’s speech coincided with preparations for the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and Trump’s 79th birthday, both of which were scheduled to be commemorated with a parade in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The speech occurred amid ongoing clashes between protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Los Angeles over Trump’s comprehensive deportation orders.
Military officials and security agencies prepared extensively for the birthday parade, with expectations of hundreds of thousands of attendees. Matt McCool from the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office indicated that officials were preparing for massive crowds, with military sources estimating approximately 200,000 participants for the festivities.
City officials installed 18 miles of anti-scale fencing and deployed multiple drones despite usual no-fly zone restrictions for such devices. The event received designation as a National Special Security Event, requiring heightened coordination among local officials, the FBI, Capitol Police, and the National Guard, with the Secret Service leading security operations.
To manage the anticipated influx of attendees, authorities positioned 175 magnetometers at security checkpoints for both daytime festivities and the evening parade. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith warned of major traffic impacts and recommended early arrival, suggesting the Metro system as an alternative to driving.
The historical error in Trump’s speech appears to conflate World War I with World War II. The end of World War I is traditionally commemorated on Armistice Day, observed annually on November 11, while recent commemorations likely referenced World War II VE Day celebrations. Trump’s suggestion that citizens would be speaking Japanese without American intervention particularly contradicts historical fact, given Japan’s alliance with the United States during the First World War.
Security officials also remained vigilant about potential immigration-related demonstrations similar to those occurring in Los Angeles potentially spreading to Washington, D.C. McCool emphasized that authorities were monitoring the situation and had comprehensive plans in place for handling any civil disobedience during the parade events.
The military parade was expected to cost between 25 million and 40 million dollars, according to Army estimates. Polling data from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated that 60 percent of Americans believed the parade was not a good use of public funds, with opposition spanning across political party lines.
The event drew comparisons to Trump’s controversial 2019 Salute to America celebration held on Independence Day, which also featured military displays and aircraft flyovers. Weather forecasts suggested potential thunderstorms could disrupt the planned Saturday parade activities in the nation’s capital.
Trump’s World War I comments generated immediate attention on social media and news outlets, with critics highlighting the factual errors in his historical references. The incident occurred during a period of broader political tensions, as the administration faced ongoing challenges related to immigration enforcement and budget legislation debates in Congress.
