On Saturday, June 14, 2025, President Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday by hosting a massive military parade in Washington D.C., the largest the U.S. had seen in decades, commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. While tanks and troops marched past the White House, and aircraft flew overhead, saluting the President, demonstrations erupted across the country, with protesters accusing Trump of authoritarian tendencies.
In a brief speech, Trump lauded the U.S. as the “hottest country in the world” and praised the military’s relentless fighting spirit and victories. However, the celebratory event was juxtaposed against a backdrop of domestic unrest and escalating international tensions. Police in Los Angeles deployed tear gas to disperse protesters, and reports surfaced of a growing conflict in the Middle East involving missile exchanges between U.S. ally Israel and Iran.
The “No Kings” protests saw tens of thousands take to the streets in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Atlanta. These demonstrations were organized to protest Trump’s perceived dictatorial overreach and the strongman symbolism inherent in the military parade.
The parade, a long-held ambition of Trump’s since his first term, featured nearly 7,000 troops and military hardware from various eras of U.S. history, showcasing victories against past adversaries. The Army estimated the event cost up to $45 million. Despite the “Happy Birthday” singalongs and chants of “USA! USA!”, the atmosphere was notably less fervent than Trump’s characteristic campaign rallies.
The White House claimed over 250,000 people attended the parade, a figure unverified. Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the “No Kings” protests as a failure, while organizers claimed gatherings in hundreds of cities.
Simultaneously, thousands protested in Los Angeles against Trump’s decision to deploy troops in the city following unrest stemming from immigration raids. Protesters in Los Angeles were met with teargas from police. Some protesters even targeted Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and a small group gathered in Paris.
Protesters like Sarah Hargrave, described the parade as a “display of authoritarianism”.
The day was further darkened by the killing of a Democratic lawmaker, Melissa Hortman, and her husband in Minnesota, an attack described as targeted. Trump quickly condemned the attacks and offered his condolences.
