Gen. McChrystal on Trump’s Military Parade & the Need for National Character | Amanpour and Company

President Trump is gearing up for a military parade this weekend to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. Trump was inspired by the pomp of a Bastille Day celebration he attended in France to stage something similar in the United States. But many -- including Republicans -- are skeptical about the event's optics and cost. Retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal, who has a deep understanding of U.S. military culture, has written a new book, "On Character." McChrystal spoke with Walter Isaacson before Israel's strikes on Iran began.

Originally aired on June 13, 2025

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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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