US President Donald Trump’s long-desired military parade rolled through downtown Washington, but the celebration for the US Army’s 250th anniversary was overshadowed by a day of violence and protests.
In the hours preceding the parade, hundreds of thousands of Americans marched and rallied in cities from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, voicing their dissent against Mr. Trump’s actions during his time in office, marking the largest protests since his return to power in January.
The parade, coinciding with Mr. Trump’s 79th birthday, commenced earlier than scheduled due to impending thunderstorms in the Washington area.
Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery rumbled down Constitution Avenue, an unusual sight in the US where such military displays are rare.
Watch: Donald Trump salutes during the US military parade in Washington
Thousands of spectators gathered along the route, with the president observing the events from an elevated platform protected by bulletproof glass.
Some of the president’s critics managed to position themselves along the parade route, holding protest signs, while other demonstrators were kept separated from the parade crowd by local law enforcement.
Chants of ‘USA! USA!’ erupted as the Republican took to a large stage in front of the White House.
The killing of a Democratic politician and her husband in northern Minnesota, described by authorities as a targeted attack, cast a shadow over the parade.
Mr. Trump quickly condemned the assaults outside Minneapolis that resulted in the deaths of former state speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, while another state politician, John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, were injured.
Military parades are more typical in cities like Moscow and Pyongyang than in Washington, but Mr. Trump has long expressed a desire for one since his first term.
His vision came to fruition with a $45 million spectacle.
The procession opened with a 21-gun salute, followed by the presentation of a flag to Mr. Trump by the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, who descended from the sky.
The US Army brought nearly 7,000 troops to Washington, along with 150 vehicles, including over 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored vehicles, four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles, and artillery pieces such as the M777 and M119.
The parade showcased the history of the Army from its founding during the Revolutionary War to the present day. Mr. Trump frequently stood and saluted as troops marched by.
Members of his cabinet, including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were in attendance.
People took part in a ‘No Kings’ protest outside City Hall in Los Angeles.
Mr. Trump first expressed interest in a military parade in Washington early in his first term from 2017 to 2021.
In 1991, tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait during the Gulf War.
The celebrations were expected to cost the US Army between $25 million and $45 million, according to US officials. This includes the parade itself as well as moving equipment and providing housing and meals for the troops.
US military service members in Revolutionary War uniforms march during the parade.
Critics have labeled the parade an authoritarian display of power that is wasteful, especially given Mr. Trump’s statements about wanting to cut costs across the federal government.
Bryan Henrie, a Trump supporter who flew in from Texas to celebrate the Army’s anniversary, saw no issue with tanks rolling through Washington’s streets.
“I don’t see a controversy. I’ll celebrate safety and stability over anarchy any day,” said the 61-year-old.
Earlier that day, thousands marched in Washington and other cities to protest against Mr. Trump’s policies. The demonstrations were largely peaceful and represented the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump’s presidency since his return to power in January.
In Los Angeles, however, tensions escalated. About an hour before a downtown curfew, police on horseback aggressively pushed back demonstrators, deploying gas, flashbangs, and other less-lethal munitions, causing large groups to panic and flee.
Protesters were reported to be launching commercial-grade fireworks, rocks, and bottles at officers. Some demonstrators donned gas masks and helmets, vowing to remain in the area for several more hours.
People protested against the Trump administration in Los Angeles.
A crowd earlier confronted soldiers guarding a federal building, yelling “Shame! Shame!” and “Marines, get out of LA!”
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Trump for deploying National Guard troops in Los Angeles without his approval, calling it a “vulgar display of weakness.”
Anti-Trump groups planned nearly 2,000 demonstrations nationwide to coincide with the parade.
Many were held under the “No Kings” theme, asserting that no individual is above the law.
Thousands turned out for the ‘No Kings’ rally in Bryant Park, New York City.
Thousands of individuals of all ages gathered around Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, many carrying homemade signs resonating with the “No Kings” theme. One sign read, “No crown for a clown.”
Actor Mark Ruffalo participated in the demonstration, wearing a hat that said “immigrant.”
“We’re witnessing dehumanizing language directed at LGBT individuals, those with autism, people with disabilities, racial minorities, and undocumented individuals,” remarked Cooper Smith, 20, from upstate New York. “Someone needs to show that most Americans oppose this.”
Demonstrators hold a large banner reading ‘We the People’, the first three words of the US Constitution’s preamble during the ‘No Kings’ rally in Seattle.
Protesters in downtown Chicago clashed with police yesterday, with some waving upside-down American flags and chanting: “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” and “No justice, no peace.”
Members of the far-right Proud Boys, staunch Trump supporters, attended an Atlanta “No Kings” protest, clad in the group’s signature black and yellow colors.
About 400 protesters, organized by a group called RefuseFascism.org, marched through Washington and assembled for a rally in a park across from the White House.
A protester draped with a combined US-Mexican flag kneels before a police line in Austin, Texas.
Mr. Trump had warned against protests at the parade, stating that “they’re going to be met with very big force.”
Members of the US Army march in the 250th birthday parade.
Sunsara Taylor, a founder of Refuse Fascism, addressed the crowd, saying, “today we refuse to accept Donald Trump unleashing the military against the people of this country and on the streets. We say, ‘Hell no.’
