Latest news with #AmericanMight
National Post
8 hours ago
- Politics
- National Post
Trump's long-awaited military parade rolls through D.C. amid protests and patriotism
The grand military parade that President Donald Trump had been wanting for years barreled down Constitution Avenue on Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute, playing out against a counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the U.S. leader as a dictator and would-be king. Article content The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until the parade was added to an event recognizing the Army's 250th anniversary. Article content Article content Article content 'Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time America did too,' Trump declared in brief remarks at the parade's end. Article content Article content The president praised the strength of the military's fighting forces and said U.S. soldiers 'fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win' — putting a new twist on a line that Trump regularly delivered during his 2024 campaign rallies after he survived an assassination attempt. Article content Early in the evening's pageantry, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team descended from overcast skies toward the reviewing stand. The team had been scheduled to appear at the end of the parade, but jumped earlier than planned in the drizzly skies above the National Mall. Article content At times, Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand. But attendance appeared to fall far short of early predictions that as many as 200,000 people would attend the festival and parade. There were large gaps between viewers near the Washington Monument on a day when steamy weather and the threat of thunderstorms could have dampened turnout. Article content Article content Article content Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the U.S. capital. Article content Displays of military might Article content The daylong display of America's Army came as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other U.S. presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard over the governor's objections and dispatched the U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. Article content As armoured vehicles rolled down the street in front of the president, on the other side of the country, the Marines who Trump deployed to Los Angeles appeared at a demonstration for the first time, standing guard outside a federal building. Dozens of Marines stood shoulder to shoulder in full combat gear beside the National Guard, Homeland Security officers and other law enforcement. Hundreds of protesters facing them jeered in English and Spanish, telling the troops to go home.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Americans march in nationwide protest before Donald Trump's military parade
By Idrees Ali, Tim Reid, Brad Brooks, Karen Freifeld for Reuters Hundreds of thousands of Americans protested President Donald Trump at rallies and marches in major cities from New York to Los Angeles on Sunday (NZT), a day marred by the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota and conflict in the Middle East. The protests marked the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump's presidency since he returned to power in January, and came the same day that thousands of military personnel, vehicles and aircraft will roll through and fly above Washington, DC in an unusual display of American might. The parade will honour the US Army's 250th anniversary, as well as the president's 79th birthday, but Trump's hopes for a day of celebration have been punctuated by violence and discord. National Guard troops and US Marines are on guard in Los Angeles, ordered there by Trump to secure the heavily Democratic city amid protests over his immigration policies - a deployment that California Governor Gavin Newsom has challenged in court. Meanwhile, Israel pounded Iran with a second barrage of strikes in a bid to destroy its nuclear programme, after Iran retaliated with strikes the evening before, stoking fears of a mushrooming conflict between the two nations. Anti-Trump groups planned nearly 2000 demonstrations across the country to co-incide with the parade. Many are taking place under the theme 'No Kings', asserting that no individual is above the law. All planned 'No Kings' protests in Minnesota were cancelled, after what Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said was the "politically motivated assassination" of one Democratic lawmaker and wounding of a second. Authorities in Minnesota said flyers promoting the protests were found in the suspected gunman's car. A massive manhunt was under way. NYPD Strategic Response Group police officers stand outside Federal Plaza Immigration Court during during the 'No Kings' national rally. Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP Trump condemned the shootings in a social media post, saying: "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America." The Texas Department of Public Safety said it had identified a credible threat against state lawmakers planning to attend a protest, and had evacuated the state capitol and its grounds. People in Washington for the parade encountered a massive security presence, with some 30km of 2.4m-high black fencing, much of it reinforced with concrete traffic barriers, cordoning off streets and surrounding landmarks, including the Washington Monument. The celebrations will cost the US Army between $25-45 million, US officials have told Reuters. That includes the parade itself, as well as the cost of moving equipment, and housing and feeding the troops. Critics have called the parade an authoritarian display of power that is wasteful, especially given Trump has said he wants to slash costs throughout the federal government. Trump supporter Bryan Henrie flew in from Texas to celebrate the Army's anniversary and did not see any issues with tanks rolling down the streets of Washington. "I don't see a controversy," Henrie, 61, said. "I will celebrate safety and stability any day over anarchy," In Los Angeles, a large crowd of protesters faced a large contingent of Marines guarding the Roybal Federal Building downtown, the site of clashes between protesters and officers earlier this week . Standing about three metres away from the Marines, the crowd yelled in unison, "Shame! Shame!" and "Marines, get out of LA!" US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump take the stage during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP Despite rain, thousands of people of all ages turned out in and around Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, many carrying homemade signs that played off the 'No Kings' theme. "No crown for a clown", said one. Actor Mark Ruffalo was among the demonstrators, wearing a hat that read "immigrant". "We're seeing dehumanising language towards LGBT people, towards people with autism, towards people with other disabilities, racial minorities, undocumented people," said Cooper Smith, 20, from upstate New York. "Somebody's got to show that most Americans are against this." Thousands packed Chicago's Daley Plaza and surrounding streets on Saturday, under the iconic Picasso statue. Some chanted "Lock him up!" in reference to the president. Allan Hallie, a 70-year-old retired gastroenterologist, travelled from the northwest Indiana town of Ogden Dunes to protest policies of the Trump administration. "I am quite afraid of the direction of this country," he said. Members of the far-right Proud Boys - ardent Trump supporters - appeared at an Atlanta 'No Kings' protest, wearing the group's distinctive black-and-yellow colours. About 400 protesters, organised by a group called marched through Washington and gathered for a rally in a park opposite the White House. Trump had warned people against protesting at the parade itself, saying: "They're going to be met with very big force." Sunsara Taylor, a founder of RefuseFascism, told the crowd: "Today we refuse to accept Donald Trump unleashing the military against the people of this country and in the streets of this country. We say, 'hell no'." US President Donald Trump watches members of the 82nd Airborne Division march past during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP Military parades in the United States are rare. Other countries usually stage them to celebrate victories in battle or showcase military might. In 1991, tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War. Thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies from across the country, and drones operated by the Secret Service will keep watch overhead. The US Army has brought nearly 7000 troops into Washington, along with 150 vehicles, including more than 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armoured vehicles, four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles and artillery pieces, including the M777 and M119. The flyover will include Apache and Black Hawk helicopters, along with Chinooks. Older aircraft, like the World War Two-era B-25 bomber and P-51 Mustang, will also take part. - Reuters
New York Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Washington's Last Military Parade Came at a Very Different Moment
It began with an F-117 stealth fighter flying by as thousands of U.S. troops began a 3.5-mile march from Capitol Hill. The last major military parade in the nation's capital was on June 8, 1991, just months after the end of Operation Desert Storm. It was called the National Victory Celebration, and its festivities were a celebration of American military might and technological prowess after U.S. and coalition forces had expelled the Iraqi army from Kuwait following roughly a month of airstrikes and a 100-hour ground war. Once the wedge-shaped black jet flew down the National Mall, more than a dozen Army and Navy helicopters followed, as did an OV-10 Bronco observation plane from the Marines. Hundreds of thousands of people cheered as more than 8,000 active-duty and reserve service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard along with a civilian contingent from the Merchant Marine made their way along the route from Capitol Hill down Constitution Avenue, over the Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River to the Pentagon. Early in the route, they marched under a huge yellow ribbon suspended over the road by cranes. On Saturday, troops and military equipment were set to again roll down the streets of Washington, this time for the Army's 250th birthday celebration. President Trump has boasted about plans for the 'amazing day,' which is also his 79th birthday. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump is finally getting his chance to try to top France with a grand military parade in DC
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight years after President Donald Trump was dazzled by a grand military parade down the Champs-Élysées in Paris, he is finally getting a chance to try to top the spectacle. His long-delayed dream is expected to be realized Saturday with an extravaganza of American military might featuring tanks and other armored vehicles rolling through the nation's capital, thousands of soldiers marching the streets and military aircraft flying overhead. In a final flourish, an elite parachute team is to jump from above the White House, land near Trump and hand him an American flag. 'I think it's going to be great,' Trump said this week. 'We're going to celebrate our country for a change.' For Trump, a media-attuned real estate developer who was a reality television star and beauty pageant owner, it's a chance to flex his skills as a showman. But the muscular display of military might also comes as Trump is increasingly flexing the powers of his office, including with the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to respond to protests in Los Angeles over his immigration crackdown. The Republican president's desire for a grand military parade was scuttled in his first term over concerns about the high cost for the event. This time around, he is barreling past objections just like the tanks that will roll down Constitution Avenue. Trump has dismissed concerns about the cost, about what message the display of military power sends and about the fact that it will take place on his 79th birthday. One potential obstacle the president can't control is the weather. There's a chance the parade could be interrupted by thunderstorms. The White House has said it will go on rain or shine, but it could be delayed by lightning. Trump said Thursday night that he hopes the weather is OK but if it's not, 'That's OK too.' 'Doesn't matter,' he said at the White House. 'Doesn't affect the tanks at all. Doesn't affect the soldiers. They're used to it.' Parade plans emerge after joining Army bash, donors defraying costs The parade was initially conceived as a July 4 event, but Trump found occasion this year to add it onto a long-planned celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army that coincides with Flag Day and Trump's birthday. 'This parade will honor all of the military men and women who have bravely served our country, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. 'No event can fully capture our gratitude for those who have worn the uniform, but this grand parade will ensure our veterans and active-duty service members are recognized with the respect and magnificence they deserve.' The White House has not offered details about when and how the administration first began pushing this year to turn Trump's parade vision into reality, but the president has been briefed regularly on its progress and made suggestions about details of the plans, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Private donations from companies like Lockheed Martin, Amazon and UFC are helping defray some of the costs, but the government still is expected to spend $25 million to $45 million. Some members of Congress have questioned the high cost at a time when the administration has been pushing for deep spending cuts throughout the government. Defense officials and the White House have justified the cost as a worthy expense to pay tribute to service members and inspire patriotism, and Trump has called it 'a great expenditure.' 'We're going to have to try and top it' Outside of wartime, there isn't much of a tradition of military parades in the U.S., with some critics likening the planned pageantry to the jingoistic displays seen in North Korea. But Trump's inspiration was the 2017 Bastille Day procession he attended in France, which he declared at the time to be 'magnificent' and 'one of the greatest parades I have ever seen.' 'We're going to have to try and top it,' he said then. With the parade now set to occur on his 79th birthday, Trump said he is 'taking a little heat' over the overlapping occasions. But he said the festivities are meant to celebrate the Army and Flag Day, not his birthday. His imprint Saturday will be clear, though. Trump requested aircraft and military equipment that capture the might of the military, according to the White House. He is expected to view the synchronized flyovers, along with the processions of tanks, historical reenactments and marching soldiers, from a special reviewing stand. Toward the end of the day's events, he is set to deliver remarks during a nationally televised ceremony capped by fireworks. One of Trump's favorite musical acts, ' God Bless the USA' singer Lee Greenwood, is on tap to perform. Greenwood's song is one of the president's preferred walk-on tunes at events. The singer has performed in person at campaign rallies, and Trump even partnered with Greenwood on a business deal to sell 'God Bless the USA' Bibles for $59.99. Protests expected to counter the military show Though the president has blown past the logistical and financial barriers that stopped his parade in the past, the pageantry still is expected to draw pushback. With predictions of as many as 200,000 attendees, the Secret Service is preparing for protests by erecting 18 miles of anti-scale fencing and deploying drones to the city's skies to keep watch. Multiple protests to counter the event were being planned, including a march to the White House. Immigration-related clashes between protesters and law enforcement in Los Angeles have spread to other cities this week and heightened the possibility of tensions in the Washington area. The president this week said that if protesters show up at the parade, 'they will be met with very big force.' It was not clear what he meant by that remark, but it added to the alarm of critics who claim the policies of Trump's administration and the planned lavish display of militarism smack of authoritarian politics. Organizers of 'No Kings' protests are planning demonstrations around the country Saturday to counter an event they contend is meant to feed Trump's ego. 'The flag doesn't belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,' the 'No Kings' website says. But they're not planning to hold an event in Washington. Instead, their flagship event will be in Philadelphia, and organizers said they hope to draw attention away from what they paint as a strongman spectacle designed for Trump's birthday, like a king. Trump laughed off the idea Thursday. 'I don't feel like a king,' he said. 'I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.' ___ Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
