3 Takeaways From The Military Parade And No Kings Protests On Trump S

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 26, 2025, 6:06 AM

3 takeaways from the military parade and no kings protests on trump s

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. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday with a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., against a backdrop of political division and protests savaging President Trump rippling across the country. Trump, whose 79th birthday corresponded with the Army anniversary, had long dreamed of holding such a display of America's military might.

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 movement across the country on Saturday. Despite threats of lightning and storms rolling into D.C., the parade went ahead as advertised. About the parade: The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday with a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., against a backdrop of political division and protests savaging President Trump rippling across the country. Why was the timing a big deal?

President Trump had long dreamed of holding such a display of America's military might and yesterday was his 79th birthday. What didn't happen? Stormy clouds didn't rain on the parade despite threats of lightning and storms rolling into D.C. Read on... about why Trump has wanted the parade for years. The U.S.

Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday with a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., against a backdrop of political division and protests savaging President Trump rippling across the country. About 2,000 “No Kings” demonstrations took place Saturday, June 14, in all 50 states the same day of President Donald Trump’s military parade, which celebrates the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and coincides with his birthday. Millions were expected to participate in the protests. The demonstrations were planned by 50501 — a grassroots movement that began as a response to what the organization calls “anti-democratic” actions of the Trump administration — and organized locally by independent volunteers. They came as protesters voice opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s arrests under the president’s long-promised immigration crackdown.

In Los Angeles, the Trump administration sent the National Guard and hundreds of Marines in response to anti-ICE rallies that began June 6 and continued for days. Americans are divided over the decision to deploy troops to the largely peaceful rallies, according to recent polling, McClatchy News reported. Follow McClatchy News’ live updates on the demonstrations and events in Washington, D.C. Protests are set to take place in more than 2,000 communities around the U.S. Thousands of "No Kings Day" protests are set to be held throughout the country on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump's administration and to counterprogram the military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the U.S. Army's 250th birthday.

"'No Kings Day' is the largest single-day, peaceful protest in recent American history, made up of millions of normal, everyday Americans who are showing up in more than 2,000 communities around the country to... Indivisible and other organizations involved with the coalition coordinating the protests have said that the protests are meant to protest what they say is overreach by the Trump administration on immigration enforcement and deportations,... They've also pointed to how the military parade is being held on Trump's birthday. Trump has denied any connection between the parade's timing and his birthday, pointing to how June 14 is Flag Day. While the protests remained largely peaceful, there were several violent outbursts, including in Salt Lake City, where a gunman opened fire and left one person in “life-threatening condition.” From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing.

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important... At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

“No Kings” demonstrators marched in hundreds of cities on Saturday to protest what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian agenda, including recent immigration raids that have rattled communities across the country. Millions of people were estimated to have joined the protests in over 2,000 communities.

3 Takeaways From The Military Parade And No Kings Protests On Trump S

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