Donald Trump Threatens That Any Protesters At Upcoming Military Parade 'Will Be Met With Very Big Force'
'If there's any protests that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. '…And I haven't even heard about a protest, but, you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.'
More from Deadline
Condé Nast Taps Mark Guiducci To Lead Vanity Fair
CNN Gets A Big Viewership Bump With Live Telecast Of 'Good Night, And Good Luck'
Michael Stipe, Jason Isbell & Brandi Carlile Among Artists Featured On Album To Benefit Democracy Forward's Legal Challenges
Nationwide protests are being planned for Saturday in what is being organized as No Kings Day, with more than 1,500 events planned across the country.
Trump's comments come after his decision to send 2,000 National Guard troops to respond to protests in Los Angeles over ICE's immigration raids. On Monday, military officials announced that hundreds of Marines also will be deployed, while Governor Gavin Newsom said that an additional 2,000 National Guard troops have been ordered.
Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials say that Trump's sending of the military is an overreaction that has inflamed the situation. Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Trump administration, arguing that the president overstepped his authority.
The military parade will be held on Saturday evening in Washington, with plans for a show of fighter jets, helicopters, tanks and, per Axios, and even rocket launchers and missiles.
The purpose of the parade is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army, but Trump will have a reviewing stand on the Ellipse as the parade makes its way up Constitution Avenue.
The parade will cost $45 million, including as much as $16 million to repair streets, according to NBC News.
The costs are estimates, but some lawmakers, including Republicans, have questioned the expenditure. Per Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told reporters on Tuesday, 'Never been a big fan of goose-stepping soldiers in big tanks and missiles rolling down the street.'
For the Army's bicentennial on June 14, 1975, President Gerald Ford did not preside over a military parade but attended a ceremony at Fort Benning, GA. Ford started his speech by quipping about his recent stumble down the steps of Air Force One during a visit to Salzburg, Austria.
Best of Deadline
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media
Where To Watch All The 'John Wick' Movies: Streamers That Have All Four Films
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Republican Says He Doesn't 'Buckle Up' in D.C. Amid Fear of Carjacking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said he does not "buckle up" when driving in the nation's capital for fears of carjackings and his hindered response time if caught in one. Newsweek reached out to a political analyst via text message Wednesday for additional comment. Why It Matters President Donald Trump's move to federalize Washington, D.C., represents one of the most aggressive uses of federal authority over local law enforcement in recent memory and raised questions on the balance between local control and federal emergency powers in the district. Trump cited the District of Columbia's Home Rule Act in the enabling of federal control for a limited period. In a news conference addressing the administration's decision, district Mayor Muriel Bowser said in part that she believes Trump's view of D.C. was shaped during his first term in office, during and post-COVID, noting the spike in crime during the period. What To Know While speaking with Fox News on D.C. crime, Mullin said that "If you look at car theft only ... if Washington, D.C., was a state, Washington, D.C., would be three times higher than any other state. And we're talking about a city. And we're comparing it to full states." "And by the way, I'm not joking when I say this. I drive around in Washington, D.C., in my jeep and, yes, I do drive myself," the Oklahoma lawmaker continued. "And I don't buckle up. And the reason why I don't buckle up, and people can say whatever they want to, they can raise their eyebrows at me, again, is because of carjacking." Mullin added: "I don't wanna be stuck in my vehicle when I need to exit in a hurry because I got a seat belt around me. And ... I wear my seat belt all the time, but in Washington, D.C., I do not because it is so prevalent of carjacking. ... And I don't want the same thing to happen to me what's happened to a lot of people that work on The Hill." Trump also discussed D.C.'s crime record in comparison to other states Wednesday night on Truth Social, saying in part, "If D.C. were a State, it would have the highest Homicide Rate of any State in America. The Violent Crime Rate in D.C. has worsened, and the Murder Rate has essentially DOUBLED in just over a decade — But these are only the 'official' statistics released by corrupt City Officials." A Newsweek analysis of local and federal data reported violent crime in 2024 had hit a 30-year low in the district, and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department had also reported 2025 decreases in violent crime, including a 37 percent decline in carjackings. Recent incidents, however, did prompt national attention, including the D.C. attack on Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, former employee at the Department of Government Efficiency. What People Are Saying Bowser posted to X on Monday: "Washington, DC is a beautiful city. DC is home to 700K people and welcomes millions every year. We have the #1 park system, fantastic public schools, and a tremendous public transportation system. And we are at a 30-year low in violent crime. It's important for all who live here and visit to know how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that we've accomplished." Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma prepares for a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 29. (Photo by) Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma prepares for a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 29. (Photo by) This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
Wall Street Journal
21 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Chinese Imports Fell During Trump's First Term. It's Happening Again.
President Trump recently delayed for 90 days raising tariffs on China to give the two sides more time to negotiate a trade deal. Where the sides ultimately end up is an open question: The president hasn't said how much more he will impose on China beyond the 30% currently in place if a deal isn't reached. But this much is clear: The U.S.'s reliance on Chinese goods has fallen off since Trump first put tariffs on China in 2018.
New York Times
21 minutes ago
- New York Times
Law Firms That Settled With Trump Are Pressed to Help on Trade Deals
Two of the law firms that reached deals with President Trump this year to avoid punitive executive orders were connected in recent months with the Commerce Department about working on trade deals, according to three people briefed on the matter. The firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden Arps, were connected to the department by Mr. Trump's personal lawyer, Boris Epshteyn, two of the people said. Mr. Epshteyn, who does not hold a government position, played a direct role in brokering the initial deals between Mr. Trump and the law firms, in which the firms agreed to do pro bono work on causes the president has championed, like helping veterans, military families and first responders. His previously undisclosed efforts connecting the firms with the Commerce Department shows how he is seeking to impose Mr. Trump's expansive view of the deals, including recruiting firms to work for the government in advancing the administration's agenda. After Mr. Epshteyn helped connect the firms with the government in recent months, Kirkland and Ellis went on to work on the trade deals the administration struck with Japan and South Korea, which were announced in July, according to three of the people. It is unclear if Skadden Arps has done work for the administration. Earlier this year, after the law firms struck deals with Mr. Trump, the president said that he had a broader understanding of the terms than the firms had let on, saying the pro bono work included helping the administration on trade deals and could even be applied to representing him in a personal capacity. It's unclear whether Kirkland & Ellis did the work for free or charged the Commerce Department. But the revelation of the firm's work marks the first time that it has been publicly revealed that one of the firms that cut a deal with Mr. Trump is now doing work for the administration. Representatives of Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden Arps did not immediately respond to requests for comment. When asked for comment, Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, did not directly address the latest developments. Instead, he said, Mr. Trump 'has radically changed the business of discrimination, including by ending D.E.I. in Big Law.' He added: 'Law firms that have for years propelled one-sided justice by providing pro bono resources to those causes that make our nation more dangerous and less free have started serving their nation.' Benno Kass, the director of public affairs for the Commerce Department, said the agency and the secretary, Howard Lutnick, 'are working with some of America's top law firms and legal minds to cement the truly historic trade deals that President Trump negotiated for the American people.' He did not specify which firms or what work they were doing. Mr. Epshteyn would not provide comment. Nine firms reached deals with Mr. Trump to head off executive orders. In total, the firms pledged nearly a billion dollars in pro bono legal work. At least some of the other firms are said to have been connected with the administration to do work for the government, but it's unclear which firms or what issues they were discussing working on. None of the firms have acknowledged any wrongdoing. They were targeted with punitive executive orders or implicit threats for representing or aiding Mr. Trump's political foes or employing people he sees as having used the legal system to come after him. The deals have been criticized by many in the legal community as unconstitutional and undemocratic, and have led to splits inside some of the firms about the wisdom of agreeing to terms with the White House.
