'No Kings' anti-Trump protests across US ahead of his military parade
Thousands of people have gathered in cities across the US to join protests against President Donald Trump, hours ahead of his military parade in Washington DC.The demonstrations organised by a group called "No Kings" was billed as a nationwide day of defiance of his policies.Lawmakers, union leaders, and activists gave speeches in cities like New York, Philadelphia and Houston to crowds waving American flags and signs critical of Trump.The military parade, scheduled for Saturday evening, is timed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army and it is also Trump's birthday.He has warned that protesters who demonstrate at the military parade would be "met with very big force".
Some politicians and former military leaders have criticised the event as a politicisation of the US military.In Los Angeles, California, leaders and law enforcement remained on high alert after a week of protests against a series of immigration raids sparked protests across the city. The city has remained on edge after Trump federalised the state's National Guard contingent to respond to the protest against Governor Gavin Newsom's wishes."Given what has been happening over the last week, and not just in Los Angeles, but in cities throughout the country, that's added in a whole other layer of concern," Mayor Karen Bass said.The "No Kings" group takes its name from a criticism that Trump has overstepped the limits of presidential power in second term. His early slate of executive orders, mass firings of federal workers, and sudden deportations have been met with hundreds of lawsuits, alleging the administration had violated the US Constitution and various laws and procedures.Demonstrations in the state of Minnesota were cancelled after attacks on two state lawmakers on Saturday. One lawmaker was killed and another injured in the shooting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
I went to Donald Trump's birthday tank parade and already thinks he's a king
When Donald Trump came on stage for his birthday speech, the US Army band struck up a very familiar tune. It wasn't one of the usual American patriotic hits - like Hail to the Chief. And it wasn't his favourite intro song, Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA - although Greenwood would perform that one live later. No, Trump came on to My Country 'Tis of Thee. Which shares a tune which is better know by Brits as God Save The King. As dogwhistles go, it was not subtle. Trump's speech itself was unusually brief and largely apolitical - but the rest of the event couldn't have been more Pyongyang if he'd come on stage in a sheepskin leather jacket. Over a couple of hours, 7,000 troops, dozens of tanks and other vehicles, swarms of helicopters and two robot dogs rolled, flew and ambled past Trump's podium as he apparently struggled to stay awake. It was the kind of muscular display of might that America just doesn't do. The last time this kind of military parade took place in Washington it was in celebration of the completion of Operation Desert Storm, back in the early 90s. And that one had a good reason behind it - it was a celebration of a military victory. This time it was so transparently just an excuse for an elderly wannabe hardman could look at his real life airfix models for the afternoon of his birthday. And don't be trying to claim the celebrations of the US Army's 250th anniversary were already underway before Trump took office. Because the original plan was just hold a festival in celebration - which still happened in the field next door. There was a rope climbing contest, a few choppers and tanks and vastly fewer MAGA hats. The parade was for Trump's birthday, and anyone who thinks it wasn't didn't speak to many people who turned up to watch. As it turns out, I did. Almost everyone mentioned Donald Trump before the Army when asked wha they were celebrating. It was undeniably a spectacle. The scale of the hardware and he sacrifice of the troops was genuinely quite stirring. And the firework display next to the Washington monument was a legit impressive display of American firepower. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was visibly bored - at one point getting caught on camera yawning. Even Trump himself - sitting between a gurning Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth an a scowling Melania throughout the parade - appeared to drop off a few times. There also was a very weird moment towards the end as well, where Trump and Melania just stood in the middle of the stage for several minutes in silence, until a military officer appeared to tap Trump on the shoulder and suggest he might like to try leaving the stage. Earlier, a man in a Stars and Stripes stetson had old me it was about time America put its might on display - because it would raise morale. Not just with the troops, but the public too. You see, as well as being letting him play at being King - or perhaps playing Kim - it was transparently about hijacking American history and patriotism for MAGA. To make Donald Trump and a strong America he same thing in people's minds. As tension between the White House and Europe heats up, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is , select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our . And for the 70,000 or so people on the National Mall yesterday, it had been exceptionally successful. For the rest of the country, maybe not so much. They'll have watched it on a split screen, juxtaposed with either footage of the hunt for a political assassin in Minnesota, or of protests against his authoritarian behaviour. Or of a war in the Middle East that is showing up once again that his claims of being the "President of Peace" were absolute hogwash. It's a fraught week for America. And as Trump clutched his wife's pinkie and waddled off the sage, the sinister potential of what I'd just seen started to sink in. Pictures and video by Humphrey Nemar Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan, Mikey Smith, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke and Ashley Cowburn. Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
What Melania was REALLY thinking at Donald's big parade...and which cabinet secretary seemed 'bored'
A body language expert has revealed what First Lady Melania Trump was really thinking during Saturday's military parade in honor of her husband's birthday, and pointed out that Marco Rubio seemed 'bored' during the extravagant event. Donald Trump watched the grand parade from the south side of the White House to see 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks stroll down Constitution Avenue on his 79th birthday. Body language expert Judi James told that Melania's nonverbal communication with her husband during the parade 'suggests some tension' between the presidential couple. 'Her left hand seems to perform a small ritual that suggests inner tension, or she lifts it to preen her hair as it wafts in the breeze,' James said. 'When Donald talks to her she becomes more animated, leaning quickly sideways to listen and smile.' In an unusual display of affection between the president and first lady, Melania held her husband's hand during the parade. James noted that the First Lady was more rigid than her husband, 'almost mirroring the military pose of Pete Hegseth on Trump's other side.' Demonstrations across the country eclipsed the event as Americans attended 'No Kings' rallies protesting against Trump's parade and his unprecedented use of the National Guard to intercept protests against his immigration policies. James told that Trump could've been slyly downplaying his status during the parade as a response to accusations from protesters that he thinks of himself as a king or a dictator. 'His jacket is unbuttoned which looks decidedly casual as he stands between a military audience and his air-fist ritual as he walks on looks like a tempered version of a victory salute to the crowds,' James said. She noted that the first lady on the other hand, opted for a more formal attire in a cream, double-breasted, tailored power suit. James argued that Trump's typical suit was an effort to distinguish himself from the military personnel at the parade. 'When Trump is seated, it looks like another day in the White House office,' James continued. 'While Melania performs a wide, Duchenne smile, his smile is the lip-clamped, acknowledging version and his posture slumps as he rests his elbows on his thighs and splays his knees with his hands forming a downward steeple gesture.' James added that Trump didn't try to assimilate with the military parade and came to honor them instead of mirroring them. As the parade continued, James noted that Trump's 'levels of enthusiasm' increased. 'He's now standing to salute in a frozen pose for long periods of time and has invented a new form of military greeting where he salutes with his right hand and performs a low air-punch with his left, suggesting a very strong desire to both honor and connect with the troops in a friendlier gesture of support.' The body language expert also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was 'sitting grim-faced with one arm hooked over the back of his chair.' Rubio even let out a huge sigh at one point, which might've suggested he was bored during the parade. The event fell short of early attendance predictions and lost the center of attention amid nationwide unres t and the attempted a ssassination and assassination of two elected officials in Minnesota.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Police searching for former appointee of Tim Walz in connection with fatal shootings in Minnesota, according to reports
A former appointee of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is being sought by police in connection with the fatal shooting of a state lawmaker, according to reports. Police are searching for Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who was appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Governor's Workforce Development Board, sources told The New York Post. It comes after a shooter entered the Champlin residence of Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday, shooting both and leaving them critically injured. They then proceeded to the home of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, where she and her husband were fatally shot. Local police, sheriff's deputies, and the FBI have launched an extensive manhunt, with SWAT teams seen moving through the sleepy Minnesota neighborhood where the shootings took place. During a Saturday morning press conference, officials said they are investigating the possibility of multiple shooters, however no one is in custody. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said the suspect's vehicle contained a 'manifesto', a list of targets including both lawmakers, and signs for an anti-Trump 'NO KINGS' rally set to be held on Saturday. The first shooting occurred just after 2am at Hoffman's home in Champlin, about 20 miles from Minneapolis. Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times, KSTP reported. Late on Saturday afternoon, officials admitted Boelter had slipped through the net as they widened their search efforts, and released new images of the suspect allegedly wearing a Halloween-style mask during the shootings. A Minnesota state official was killed and another gravely injured on Saturday in what authorities believe were targeted attacks The second attack took place at around 4am at Hortman's Brooklyn Park residence, eight miles south. After that shooting, police engaged one of the suspects in a gunfight on the street, officials said. Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, confirmed that the suspect escaped during the exchange and is still on the run. At a press conference on Saturday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol urged people in the state not to attend planned anti-Trump protests until the suspect or suspects in the shooting are apprehended, fearing the demonstrations could be targeted. Authorities shared an image on social media showing flyers for the 'NO KINGS' rallies planned to coincide with Donald Trump's birthday parade, which they said they found in a vehicle believed to be linked to the shootings. Authorities believe the two incidents are connected and involve a suspect posing as law enforcement. Walz addressed the situation on social media, condemning the 'targeted attacks,' and adding that he is activating the State Emergency Operations Center as police launch an urgent manhunt. 'I've been briefed this morning on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park,' Walz wrote on X. 'I've activated the State Emergency Operations Center. Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them.' Police described the suspect as a white male with brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants. Brooklyn Park Police issued a shelter-in-place order around 5.30am, later expanding it to a three-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course. Another emergency alert was issued around 7am, advising residents to only open their doors if two officers are present and to call 911 to verify any officer's identity. 'Police are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous,' the alert stated. 'Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.' The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office confirmed that an investigation is underway and Brooklyn Park is the lead agency. Authorities are yet to confirm whether the lawmakers were the intended targets or if the attacks were politically motivated. Meanwhile, other Minnesota state officials have taken to social media to share their reactions and updates about the ongoing incident. 'I'm just learning of the events that took place last night due to getting a safety alert for elected officials. I never thought we'd be here,' Mounds View Mayor, Zach Lindstrom wrote on X. 'I cannot emphasize enough that this is not ok. Any type of violence against elected officials is not ok. Any type of violence against other people is not ok.' Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar wrote on X: 'This is a stunning act of violence. I'm thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time. My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service.' Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, now the head of national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, said in a statement on Saturday that she is 'horrified and heartbroken by last night's attack on two patriotic public servants.' 'My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well. An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for,' Giffords, who was one of 13 people wounded in an Arizona supermarket parking lot in 2011, added.
