50501 Protest Group: Book Trump Military Parade Tickets, Then Don't Show

Newsweek

19 hours ago

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Celebration and protest are expected to collide on Saturday as President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and hundreds of "No Kings" demonstrations converge across the country.
The protest group 50501 is urging supporters to reserve free tickets to Trump's planned military parade and then not attend, aiming to leave the event sparsely populated.
Why It Matters
The protests, organized by the 50501 Movement (50 protests, 50 states, one movement) and other groups, are targeting a military parade scheduled to take place in the nation's capital on June 14, coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, the Army's 250th anniversary, and Flag Day.
Organizers of the protests are calling for June 14 to be a "nationwide day of defiance" and are calling for both people to join in the protests as well as eat up tickets to the military parade.
Plans for the parade called for some 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, and 50 helicopters to follow a route from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
What To Know
The protests will take place in cities across all 50 states on June 14, including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, New York, Philadelphia and Charlotte, among others. A list of all events can be found here.
In a May 28 Instagram post, the group shared a post with the caption, "We definitely aren't asking you to RSVP to take up two spots for Trump's military birthday parade. And the link definitely isn't in our bio."
The link to the reservation page of the military parade is still linked in the group's biography as of June 12.
The parade is set for 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, with gates opening at 2 p.m. and the event concluding at 9:30 p.m. It is expected to host thousands of attendees.
The event's projected cost is currently estimated to be between $25 million and $40 million. But Trump has defended the cost, telling NBC News' Meet the Press that it was "peanuts compared to the value of doing it."
He also said the parade was not "necessarily" about him. "I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday," he said.
Thousands of people fill midtown in Manhattan to protest the Trump administration's attacks on the government, climate, tariffs, immigration and education among many other issues. The organization 50501 addressed the issues of the attacks on...
Thousands of people fill midtown in Manhattan to protest the Trump administration's attacks on the government, climate, tariffs, immigration and education among many other issues. The organization 50501 addressed the issues of the attacks on immigration by the Trump White House. More
Andrea Renault/STAR MAX/IPx/Ap Images
What People Are Saying
Organizers say on the "No Kings" website: "In America, we don't do Kings. They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings."
The 50501 movement, in a May Instagram post: "The wannabe dictator wants a party? Well then, let's show him some "love". On June 14th, Trump is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to throw himself a military parade for his birthday. He wants a made-for-TV event to display his power—but the real power in America isn't with some wannabe king. It rests with all of us, we the people. That's why we're peacefully protesting across the nation on that same day, in every location that Trump isn't. Because in America, we have no kings."
President Donald Trump posted a video update on his Truth Social platform on June 5, saying: "We're honoring the 250th anniversary of the greatest fighting force in history, the United States Army. We will celebrate a spectacular military parade in Washington DC, like no other.
"For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America's army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home. This parade salutes our soldiers' remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won't want to miss it! Just don't miss this one. It's gonna be good.
Thundering tanks and break-taking flyovers will roar through our capital city as nearly 7,000 soldiers march in historic uniforms from every major war since the Revolution. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country."
What Happens Next
Organizers are calling for people to attend demonstrations being held across the country or to organize their own events.
The president has repeatedly expressed his excitement for the parade.
The military display comes days after Trump called in the thousands of National Guards and hundreds of Marines to quell demonstrations in Los Angeles against the administration's immigration raids. National Guardsmen have also been put on standby in Texas.