”Make America Great Again”: Parade and large-scale protests mark 250th anniversary of US Army

Washington hosted the first military parade in three decades to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army. The event came amid nationwide protests and coincided with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

The event was broadcast live by the White House.

“The greatest fighting force,” Trump said

The parade marched down Constitution Avenue and featured approximately 7,000 troops, dozens of M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles, as well as artillery and helicopters. The audience was treated to a history of the US Army, from the Revolutionary War to modern military conflicts, featuring costumes, equipment, and special effects.

Donald Trump arrived at the event with his wife, Melania. The head of state was greeted with a 21-gun salute and the song Happy Birthday to You. In his speech, he described the US military as “the greatest, fiercest and bravest fighting force in the world” and administered the oath of office to recruits.

Grand symbolism and criticism of authoritarianism

The parade is estimated to have cost the country between $25 million and $45 million to organize, including transportation, security, food, and logistics. Trump attempted to organize a similar event in 2018 after he visited a military celebration in Paris, but the idea was rejected due to its estimated cost of approximately $90 million.

Critics called the parade wasteful and compared it to the authoritarian displays of power that they believe Trump is trying to introduce into American democracy.

“No to kings!” — Protest America

While military equipment was rolling through Washington, mass protests under the slogan “No Kings” were taking place across the country, from New York to Los Angeles. Organizers expressed opposition to the militarization of politics, authoritarian governance methods, and the privileges of billionaires.

In Minnesota, a protest was canceled after gun violence left an influential Democratic politician dead and another injured. Letters reading “No Kings” were found in the suspect’s car, local police said.

Despite the emotional background, most of the protests were peaceful. Polls show that many Americans recognize the value of the parade as a way to honor the military but disagree with the costs of it in a time of economic instability.