A grand, as some called it – historic military parade by President Donald Trump, honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, is currently taking place in the capital of the United States of America.
Thousands of Americans, including veterans, youth, and fathers celebrating Father’s Day, flocked to downtown Washington, D.C., adorned in “Make America Great Again” hats and patriotic gear displaying “Old Glory” (the American flag), despite the balmy weather and brewing thunderstorms.
The crowd greeted Trump and First Lady Melania with applause at the start – the introduction was accompanied by a gun salute as parade-goers chanted: “USA.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance also received significant applause upon their introduction. Live military music played before the parade began, as attendees swayed to the music and fanned themselves in the summer Washington heat. The crowd was heard singing “Happy Birthday” and chanting “We love Trump” after the parade officially commenced.
The parade stretches down Constitution Avenue, beginning near the Lincoln Memorial, and concluding not far from the Washington Monument.
The parade honors the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army — which was established one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence — and also coincides with Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.
The parade, however, comes at a time when riots and protests continue in Los Angeles due to the Trump administration’s immigration actions to deport illegal immigrants who surged into the country under the Biden administration, and after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran on Thursday evening. Protests in response to the military parade and recent ICE raids in Los Angeles are unfolding in cities nationwide. In Washington, a “Reject Fascism” protest, an “Equity March” in downtown D.C., as well as a “Pro-Democracy Picnic” at Fort Reno Park were scheduled for Saturday.
Extreme security measures were undertaken for the parade, with the Secret Service, police officers, and military personnel deployed along checkpoints and among the crowds. Attendees were also required to pass through metal detectors and undergo additional pat-downs to reach the parade route.
Protesters under the slogan “No Kings” gathered in cities nationwide to protest what they say is Trump leading the nation like a “king,” although the “No Kings” protest in Washington itself was canceled today. Instead, protests were held in neighboring cities, such as Alexandria and Arlington.
Trump: “I Don’t Feel Like a King”
Trump was asked about the “No Kings” protest during a bill-signing event on Thursday at the White House, which led the president to quip that he “doesn’t feel like a king.”
“I don’t feel like a king,” Trump responded. “I have to go through hell to get stuff approved. A king would say, ‘I won’t get this.’ A king would never have had the California mandate to even be talking. He wouldn’t have to call (Speaker) Mike Johnson and (Senate Majority Leader John) Thune and say, ‘Fellas, you gotta pull this off,’ and after years, we get it done,” he said, referring to three resolutions he signed Thursday that revoke electric vehicle mandates originating in California.
“No, no, I am not a king. I am not a king at all.”
Trump had previously stated that any potentially violent protesters targeting the parade would be met with “very heavy force.”
“If there’s any protest when they come out, they will be met with very big force,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “I haven’t even heard about a protest. But people who hate our country… they will be met with very heavy force.”
The parade was declared by the Trump administration as the “biggest” military parade in U.S. history.
“We love our military and take great pride in honoring our warfighters,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement to Fox News.
“Exactly 250 years ago, the first American patriots died for the cause of Independence. We owe our freedom to them and to every soldier who has given their life for our nation in the past two and a half centuries.”
Approximately 6,600 U.S. soldiers were announced to participate in the parade. The parade was also expected to include 150 military vehicles, including the Abrams tank, and 50 aircraft, including the Black Hawk.
Source: Fox News Photo: Fox News, Nathan Howard/Reuters
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