Critics of the parade have constantly pointed to the obviously sparse crowds who showed up this weekend and the glum-looking White House officials who seemed to not want to be there

President Donald Trump held a military parade through the streets of Washington to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary on Saturday, which was also Trump’s 79th birthday.

“The parade is being used for advertising by these entities with close business ties to the president,” Mr. Painter said in an interview. “You’re in a situation where the U.S. government has been use...