Recap: Military Parade & "No Kings" Protests

Over Father’s Day weekend, Washington, D.C. played host to a massive military parade marking the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, which happened to fall on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

The flashy display featured more than 6,000 troops, dozens of armored tanks and artillery vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters and other military aircraft, and even robotic military dogs. According to reports, the event’s price tag was between $25 and $45 million in taxpayer dollars.

There hasn’t been a military parade on this scale since the Gulf War era. But while the White House expected a crowd of around 250,000 people, reports suggest that the actual turnout fell well short of 200,000.

The real action seemed to be happening across the country with millions participating in the more than 2,000 “No Kings” protests nationwide. Protestors pushed back against what they see as Trump’s increasingly authoritarian rhetoric and policies, essentially calling the parade a glorified birthday bash wrapped in patriotism. The protests were all apart of the “No Kings” movement, which has emphasized its opposition to what it says is Trump’s efforts to position himself above the law and undermine democratic values.

While there were a few tense moments in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, D.C. remained relatively peaceful with no serious injuries, arrests or fatalities reported.

Recent data reportedly shows political protests have nearly tripled during Trump’s second term, highlighting growing divisions in the country.