3 takeaways from the army parade and No Kings protests on Trump’s birthday : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4956x3304+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2Fb3%2F9293b99b4607aafdf793df2ba679%2Fap25166045666324.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4956x3304+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2Fb3%2F9293b99b4607aafdf793df2ba679%2Fap25166045666324.jpg" class="img" alt="Members of the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" watch fireworks at the end of a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary on Saturday in Washington, D.C." fetchpriority="high"/> Members of the U.S. Military Band "Pershing's Personal" watch fireworks on the finish of a army parade commemorating the Military's 250th anniversary on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP cover caption

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Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP The U.S. Military celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday with a large army parade in Washington, D.C., in opposition to a backdrop of political division and protests savaging President Trump rippling throughout the nation.

Trump, whose 79th birthday corresponded with the Military anniversary, had lengthy dreamed of holding such a show of America's army may.

The parade stirred up controversy for what opponents view as a politicization of the nation's armed forces and a break from U.S. democratic norms, and sparked an organized No Kings protest motion throughout the nation on Saturday.

This is how the day unfolded.

1. Stormy clouds did not rain on the parade Regardless of threats of lightning and storms rolling into D.C., the parade went forward as marketed.

It featured dozens of armored tanks and artillery autos, corresponding to HIMARS, military plane, together with Black Hawk helicopters and Apaches, and greater than 6,000 uniformed troops. The concept was to stroll viewers by the historical past of American army battle, with some historic uniforms and autos getting used.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1815x1210+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2Fd7%2F251efff048a2a7a774809d8d34cc%2Fgettyimages-2219471613.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1815x1210+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2Fd7%2F251efff048a2a7a774809d8d34cc%2Fgettyimages-2219471613.jpg" class="img" alt="Armored vehicles drive during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Armored autos drive through the Military 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. Alex Wroblewski/AFP through Getty Pictures cover caption

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Alex Wroblewski/AFP through Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3352x2235+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F86%2F6460ca51414a9f200ab49e6f3448%2Fgettyimages-2220162267.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3352x2235+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F86%2F6460ca51414a9f200ab49e6f3448%2Fgettyimages-2220162267.jpg" class="img" alt="Members of the U.S Army parade down Constitution Avenue, representing the Revolutionary War era." loading="lazy"/> Members of the united statesArmy parade down Structure Avenue, representing the Revolutionary Warfare period. Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures Moreover, 34 horses, two mules and one canine — a Blue Heeler named Doc Holliday — joined the march.

Mike Davis, a 30-year Military serviceman who was on the parade as a spectator, stated he welcomed the flashy affair — that the army had been overdue for an enormous bash.

"The final time we have had a army parade of any types, I recall, is the Gulf Warfare," Davis stated. "So, it has been a very long time and what higher technique to have a good time it than the 250th?"

Davis stated that protests in opposition to the occasion forged a pall on what he thought must be a celebratory event, however that he additionally backed folks's First Modification rights to talk out.

"We go to warfare and defend the nation's rights for the residents to do issues like that, so extra energy to it," he stated.

The weekend festivities got here with an anticipated price ticket of between $25 million and $45 million, based on Military spokesperson Heather J. Hagan. That features deliberate highway repairs as a result of attainable harm from tanks rolling on metropolis streets.

2. Trump acquired the factor he has needed for years Trump needed to carry the parade throughout his first time period, but it surely was scrapped as a result of it was deemed too costly. He was impressed after attending the annual Bastille Day parade in France in 2017. That parade celebrates French mobs taking up the Bastille state jail in 1789.

In closing remarks following Saturday's procession, he hailed the Military because the "best, fiercest and bravest preventing pressure" the world had ever seen.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1374x917+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2Fbd%2Fa1a3f03049cb81720a4434463f2e%2Fgettyimages-2219467410.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1374x917+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2Fbd%2Fa1a3f03049cb81720a4434463f2e%2Fgettyimages-2219467410.jpg" class="img" alt="President rump stands and salutes, flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and First Lady Melania Trump." loading="lazy"/> President rump stands and salutes, flanked by Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth and First Woman Melania Trump. Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Pictures cover caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Pictures "The Military retains us free, you make us sturdy, and tonight you've got made all People very proud," he stated. "Each different nation celebrates their victories. It is about time America did too. That is what we're doing tonight."

After his speech, Trump was introduced with a historically folded American flag — a present normally reserved for the members of the family of fallen troopers.

For the reason that parade was introduced, there was sharp criticism, significantly from Democratic lawmakers who known as the showcase self-indulgent and a misuse of public funds.

"To make use of the army on this method when Donald Trump is slashing veterans' advantages to aggrandize himself, to speak to the nation his management over the army, is simply one other shameful act of this administration," stated Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California.

Different critics have stated it is a show of army pressure usually related to autocratic governments in locations like Russia or North Korea.

"It is a vulgar show," Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California stated throughout a information convention on Friday. "It is the sort of factor you see Kim Jong Un, you see Putin, you see with dictators all over the world which can be weak."

3. Protests spring up throughout the nation No Kings protests rippled peacefully throughout dozens of cities within the U.S.

Organizers estimated that greater than 5 million folks participated in additional 2,000 deliberate protests, based on spokesperson Eunic Ortiz. Whereas protests have been peaceable, police in Culpeper, Va., arrested a person who "deliberately accelerated his car into the dispersing crowd," on the finish of a protest. One particular person was hit, however nobody was harm, police stated.

Tens of hundreds marched peacefully in Philadelphia, the place organizers have been holding their primary occasion, police stated. Philadelphia was chosen because the hub, as a result of "there's an indelible hyperlink between Philadelphia and between the freedoms and the beliefs that the nation was based upon," stated Joel Payne, spokesperson for MoveOn, one of many dozens of teams behind the No Kings protests.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1559x1039+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F5e%2Fecf045a24037b87a47d7c12a4e45%2Fgettyimages-2219429567.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1559x1039+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F5e%2Fecf045a24037b87a47d7c12a4e45%2Fgettyimages-2219429567.jpg" class="img" alt="Demonstrators hold signs as they march down Dolores street protesting the Trump administration during the No Kings rally in San Franscisco, Californina on June 14, 2025, on the same day as President Trump's military parade in Washington, DC. In response to the military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army but also coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, a "No Kings" movement has sprung up promising to stage protests in more than 2,000 places across the country, including a large parade expected in Los Angeles which organizers say will feature a "20-foot-tall balloon of Trump wearing a diaper." (Photo by Nic Coury / AFP) (Photo by NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images)" loading="lazy"/> Demonstrators maintain indicators as they march down Dolores road protesting the Trump administration through the No Kings rally in San Franscisco, Californina on June 14. Nic Coury/AFP through Getty Pictures cover caption

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Nic Coury/AFP through Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1080x719+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F7b%2F23f36867489a8166c88ca631e1dd%2Fgettyimages-2219400594.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1080x719+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F7b%2F23f36867489a8166c88ca631e1dd%2Fgettyimages-2219400594.jpg" class="img" alt="A protestor holds a placard during a march down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art during a nationwide No Kings rally in Philadelphia on Saturday." loading="lazy"/> A protestor holds a placard throughout a march down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork throughout a nationwide No Kings rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. Erin Blewett/AFP through Getty Pictures cover caption

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Erin Blewett/AFP through Getty Pictures Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, one other No Kings coordinator, stated the environment on the occasion was joyful.

"At present what I noticed was a boisterous, peaceable show of First Modification rights," he informed NPR.

1000's have been at a Dallas protest, one in all greater than 60 deliberate in Texas, KERA reported. In Alaska, the theme was, "The one king I would like is king salmon," Alaska Public Media reported.

Shahera Hyatt of Sacramento made indicators for her native occasion that learn, "From Palestine to Mexico, border partitions have gotten to go," and "ICE, you are fired."

"I made a decision to go as a result of I really feel like with unchecked authority, Trump has led America into clear fascism," she informed NPR.

There have been some emotions of unease amid the protesters, a few of whom turned off their telephones and averted posting to social media.

"It does really feel like there is a vendetta in opposition to people who find themselves exercising their rights to talk up in opposition to this administration," stated protester Ali Schoenberger of Sacramento. "So I really feel prefer it's necessary to guard my fellow protestors at this time and never expose them and even have it on my cellphone."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4005x2674+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2F42%2F799bf1554eec86d2f224e7002c31%2Fgettyimages-2220141921.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4005x2674+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2F42%2F799bf1554eec86d2f224e7002c31%2Fgettyimages-2220141921.jpg" class="img" alt="Protesters rally in front of City Hall in Los Angeles on Saturday." loading="lazy"/> Protesters rally in entrance of Metropolis Corridor in Los Angeles on Saturday. Mario Tama/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Pictures "I'm fully scared of what is going on on in our nation," stated protester Margo Ross of Watsonville, Calif. "I imagine from the start it has been a coup and a fascist overthrow, and I maintain pondering, 'Properly, it will possibly't worsen.' After which it will get worse and worse."

Individually, U.S. Capitol Police stated they arrested 60 protesters Friday night after some pushed down boundaries and ran towards the steps of the Rotunda. They are saying all 60 will probably be charged with illegal demonstration and crossing a police line. Further expenses embody assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. The teams behind the protests did not instantly reply to requests for remark.

The No Kings demonstrations have been put collectively by a coalition of greater than 200 organizations, together with MoveOn, the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Academics and the Communications Employees of America. Protests weren't deliberate in Washington, D.C., the place the army parade was held.