The United States marked the 250th anniversary of the American army with a large military parade in Washington, held on the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump. Although the parade aimed to celebrate the American military and showcase US power, the event was overshadowed by massive protests across the country against Trump’s policies and authoritarian tendencies. Protest organizers, united under the ‘No Kings’ movement, estimate that between 4 and 6 million people participated, making it one of the largest protests in US history. Protests took place in multiple cities including Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Anchorage, with messages opposing Trump’s administration and the politicization of the military. Police reported that most protests were peaceful, though there were incidents such as a driver attempting to drive into a crowd in Virginia. While the White House downplayed the protests, analysts highlight that the scale and spread of the protests indicate growing resistance to Trump’s policies during his second term.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the massive scale of the protests as a sign of widespread opposition to Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and misuse of the military for political purposes. They highlight the peaceful nature of most protests and the broad coalition of civil rights groups, unions, and activists involved. The narrative focuses on defending democratic norms and condemning Trump’s policies as dangerous and divisive.
Center: Centrist sources report on both the military parade as a celebration of the US armed forces and the concurrent protests, presenting a balanced view. They note the significance of the parade marking the army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s birthday, while also acknowledging the large protests and some incidents. The coverage tends to focus on factual reporting without strong editorializing, mentioning both the White House’s defense of the parade and the protesters’ grievances.
Right: Right-leaning sources focus on the parade as a patriotic celebration of the US military and Trump’s leadership. They tend to downplay the protests, sometimes describing them as poorly attended or disruptive. The narrative often portrays the parade as a necessary show of strength and patriotism, criticizing the protesters as unpatriotic or politically motivated. The emphasis is on supporting the president and the military rather than the protest movement.
