Trump's Birthday Parade Highlights Family Absences, Melania Discontent

President Donald Trump's 79th birthday was celebrated with a large military parade in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, but the event revealed notable family absences and signs of personal strain. Melania Trump attended some White House events but appeared emotionally distant and uncomfortable during the parade, with body language experts and observers noting her dissatisfaction and detachment. Several of Trump's children, including Ivanka and Barron Trump, were missing from both the parade stand and the birthday dinner, with Ivanka reportedly distancing herself from political life and the Trump spotlight. Despite the grandeur and patriotic display, biographer Michael Wolff reported that Trump was anxious about crowd size, leading to efforts to bus in supporters to avoid empty seats. The couple's public interactions and Melania's absence from key moments fueled speculation about their relationship and potential separation. Overall, the birthday parade underscored both political spectacle and personal fissures within the Trump family.