President Donald Trump hosted the military’s largest parade in decades in Washington DC, marking 250 years of the US Army. The event featured nearly 7,000 soldiers, flyovers, and fireworks, with Trump declaring America “the hottest country in the world” and predicting it will “soon be greater and stronger than ever before”. Thousands attended the parade, despite rain dampening turnout.
The parade coincided with hundreds of “No Kings” protests across the country, with demonstrators calling for Trump’s ouster. Some protests turned violent, such as in Los Angeles, where law enforcement fired tear gas and arrested protesters. Trump did not acknowledge the protests in his speech, instead focusing on the army’s history and accomplishments.
The “No Kings” protests were the largest against Trump’s administration since his re-election, with thousands marching through cities across the US. In Minneapolis, protests were canceled after a Democratic lawmaker was shot, leaving one couple dead. In Los Angeles, protesters clashed with police, who deployed tear gas and made arrests.
Steven Jewell, a US Army veteran, criticized the parade as “a waste of money” and “an unnecessary show of military force”. He added that such displays are often associated with communist countries or dictatorships. The parade’s crowd size was also disputed, with the White House claiming over 250,000 attendees, while many observers believed the number was lower.
The US Army, formed in 1775, has a rich history of fighting in major conflicts, including the American Revolution, World War I and II, and the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Today, the US is the world’s foremost military power, with a defense budget of $895 billion in 2025, surpassing the next 10 highest-spending nations combined.
Trump’s speech at the parade emphasized patriotism and the army’s accomplishments, without mentioning current military conflicts or the protests. He warned that America’s enemies would face certain defeat if they threatened the US, praising soldiers for their bravery and dedication.
