On Saturday, June 14, 2025, President Donald Trump held a grand military parade in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and coinciding with his 79th birthday. The event featured approximately 6,200 service members, 128 military vehicles including M1 Abrams tanks, and 62 aircraft flying overhead. The parade route stretched from the Lincoln Memorial down Constitution Avenue, culminating in a concert and fireworks display.
Despite the spectacle, the parade faced widespread backlash over its estimated $45 million cost, political timing, and concerns about potential damage to city streets. Security was tight, with fencing and armed personnel securing the area.
Simultaneously, mass protests under the banner “No Kings” took place across more than 2,000 U.S. cities and towns, expressing opposition to Trump’s policies and his administration’s militarization. Notably, no protests were held in Washington, D.C., to avoid clashes during the parade. The demonstrations highlighted national tensions, especially following Trump’s controversial deployment of the National Guard and Marines to manage unrest related to immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.
Trump vowed the parade would proceed “rain or shine,” emphasizing it as a tribute to the resilience and history of the U.S. Army. The event marked a significant assertion of his role as commander-in-chief, while critics decried it as a politicized display of military power amid growing domestic dissent.
