On June 14, 2025, Washington, D.C., became the stage for a grand military spectacle as President Donald Trump celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States Army alongside his own 79th birthday. The event, marked by a massive military parade and festival, showcased the might of the American armed forces with thousands of soldiers, vehicles, and aircraft parading down Constitution Avenue near the National Mall.
The parade featured approximately 6,700 to 6,600 soldiers, 84 to 150 military vehicles, and over 50 aircraft, representing every era of the Army's storied history. Participants donned uniforms spanning from the Revolutionary War through to the War on Terror, and the procession included iconic military hardware such as 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks, World War II Sherman tanks, a World War I-era Renault tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, CH-47 Chinook helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawks, and even WWII-era P-51 aircraft.
The parade route extended along Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street NW near the Lincoln Memorial to 15th Street NW close to the White House. The event began half an hour earlier than scheduled at 6 p.m. ET to avoid looming bad weather and culminated with a spectacular 18-minute fireworks display over the Tidal Basin.
President Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, watched from a viewing stand near the White House. As the parade began, he stood and saluted the passing troops, receiving cheers and birthday wishes from the crowd. The celebration was attended by notable figures including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance—a Marine veteran—White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and several Republican House members.
During the event, Trump received a flag from a soldier who parachuted onto the White House Ellipse and administered the oath of enlistment to about 250 soldiers, welcoming them into the Army with the words, "Welcome to the United States Army and have a great life." Reflecting on the parade, Trump said, "How great our country is, very simple, and how strong our military is. We have the strongest military in the world." He praised the military's resilience and strength, warning America's adversaries: "Time and again America’s enemies have learned if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you. Your defeat will be certain. Your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete." He added, "Our soldiers never give up, never surrender and never ever quit. They fight, fight, fight and win, win, win." Vice President Vance also spoke, honoring the Army’s birthday, wishing Trump a happy birthday, and celebrating his own wedding anniversary.
Preparations for the parade were extensive. To protect the city’s roads from damage by heavy military equipment, the Army strategically placed one-inch thick steel plates along the route, and tanks were equipped with new rubber track pads. The Army estimates the total cost of the festival and parade at between $25 million and $45 million. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll defended the expense, calling it an "amazing opportunity" to tell the Army's story and anticipating a "recruiting boom" as a result.
Despite the grandeur, the parade faced criticism and opposition. According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 60% of Americans viewed the parade as "not a good use" of government funds, with Democrats particularly vocal in their disapproval. Senator Dick Durbin criticized the spending, stating, "Money should be put in medical defense research instead of wasted on some pomp and circumstance for the president. This is not consistent with what the men and women in uniform deserve." The parade's timing coincided with a nationwide wave of protests dubbed "No Kings Day," organized by progressive groups opposing the Trump administration's policies, particularly on immigration and increased deportation raids.
Across the country, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, Austin, San Diego, and Newark, New Jersey. These protests were largely peaceful, although some cities experienced clashes. In Los Angeles, police aggressively cleared streets in downtown after hours of peaceful demonstration, deploying tear gas, flash-bang devices, and mounted officers. Over 20,000 people participated in the LA protests, with police declaring an unlawful assembly and imposing an 8 p.m. curfew. Protesters faced munitions while some were injured; one man was carried out on a medic blanket with a broken leg.
Seattle saw tens of thousands march peacefully from Cal Anderson Park to the Seattle Center, with no reported confrontations or property damage. In Austin, law enforcement in riot gear blocked protesters from advancing toward a federal building, leading to a peaceful dispersal. In Georgia, police used tear gas on protesters who attempted to march toward an interstate ramp, resulting in eight arrests. Philadelphia's "No Kings" rally attracted approximately 80,000 people, concluding with chants of "No kings!" and calls for unity and justice. Martin Luther King III spoke at the Philadelphia event, emphasizing that the land belongs "to the people, not to the monarchs, not to the autocrats, not to strong men." Similar demonstrations took place in Brooklyn, Newark, San Diego, and Fort Worth, Texas, where protesters donned "Handmaid's Tale" costumes symbolizing the oppression of women.
In New York City, approximately 25,000 protesters marched down Fifth Avenue despite rainy weather. Among them were actors Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon, with Ruffalo stating he marched because "democracy is in real trouble." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also attended, expressing pride in Americans making their voices heard. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, a motorist struck four protesters and fled, with authorities investigating the incident as a possible intentional act.
In Washington, D.C., hundreds gathered near the White House, including members of the coalition "Refuse Fascism," who emphasized the importance of nonviolent but determined resistance to what they termed a "fascist regime." Organizers stressed the need to maintain peaceful protests and to create political conditions for change. Some protesters wore taco costumes, referencing the acronym "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out).
Security was heightened throughout the capital due to recent events, including the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, immigration raid protests that began in Los Angeles the previous weekend, and the targeted shooting of two Minnesota state legislators and their spouses earlier on June 14. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged residents to avoid protests until the suspect in the shootings was apprehended, describing the attack as a "politically motivated assassination." The suspect was reported to have "No Kings" posters in his car.
At the military parade checkpoint in D.C., a man was arrested for carrying a pistol with a Texas concealed carry permit, which is not valid in Washington. The parade also caused disruptions such as the temporary shutdown of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to accommodate planned flyovers, some of which were canceled due to weather concerns.
Among those attending the parade was Cindy Trimble, who traveled five hours from Cold Spring, New York, to witness the celebration despite fears of violence. She said, "If you allow other people to keep you home hiding behind your door, then they’ve won. And I refuse to let anybody stop us from celebrating our freedom, the flag, of course, the military and the president." UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime Trump supporter and sponsor of the event, was also present in the front row.
In Chicago, Pope Leo addressed a sold-out Mass at the White Sox stadium, delivering a message of hope to young Catholics and speaking about the healing power of God's love. The pope, who had previously criticized Trump and Vice President Vance's immigration policies, avoided political topics in his address.
Despite the festive atmosphere of the parade, the day was marked by stark contrasts between celebration and protest, unity and division. Rep. Jamie Raskin, speaking to the crowd in Philadelphia, encapsulated the mood of the nationwide demonstrations: "We’ve got no kings here. We’ve got no queens here. We’ve got no emperors. You are not our king and we are not your subjects. We will never be your subjects." The tension between honoring military tradition and challenging political authority underscored a nation grappling with its identity and future direction.
As the fireworks faded over the Tidal Basin and the parade ended, the echoes of chants from peaceful protests across the country reminded observers that the story of America’s democracy and its military strength continues to unfold in complex and often contentious ways.
