A large military parade was held in Washington, D.C. on the 14th (local time) to mark U.S. President Donald Trump's 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. The event had a strong emphasis on showcasing military power with combat equipment and troops. On the same day, protests titled 'No Kings' were held simultaneously at over 2,000 locations across the United States to denounce the event.
NPR, the U.S. public radio, evaluated that this parade and the protests left three key messages: ① the political role of the military within the United States, ② the symbolic power of the president, and ③ the resistance of civil society.
① Emphasizing the 'civic image of the military'
The parade that day was a large-scale event with over 6,000 personnel mobilized, including major equipment like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Black Hawk, and Apache helicopters. It was conducted with a focus on emphasizing the history and tradition of the U.S. military rather than a mere display of weapons. The event featured a procession of soldiers dressed in Revolutionary War era uniforms to modern weapons experience exhibits, and culminated in a fireworks display.
The event proceeded as scheduled despite concerns about adverse weather conditions. The U.S. Army stated that the expense of the parade was approximately $25 million to $45 million. NPR reported that while some spectators found the event meaningful, the atmosphere was heavy due to political tensions.
② Trump achieved a 'symbolic victory' but faced criticism
President Trump succeeded in realizing the military parade he had pursued during his first term but was initially thwarted. In his speech at the event, he praised the military, stating, 'Our military has the greatest and most courageous combat power in the world.' A folded flag, typically presented to families of fallen soldiers, was given to President Trump as a souvenir on this day.
However, Democrats and progressives strongly criticized the parade as an 'authoritarian display.' California Governor Gavin Newsom said, 'It is no different than what Putin and Kim Jong-un do,' while Senator Adam Schiff criticized it as a 'show using the military while cutting back on veterans' welfare.'
③ Resistance through 'No Kings' protests nationwide
On the day of the parade, 'No Kings' protests were held at over 2,000 locations across the United States. Approximately 5 million people participated in the protests, led by more than 200 organizations, including the progressive civic group MoveOn, the immigrant rights protection group American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), according to organizers.
In cities like Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles (LA), and Dallas, peaceful marches with tens of thousands of participants took place, while in Alaska, a slogan reading 'The only king I want is salmon' garnered attention. In contrast, an incident of a vehicle ramming occurred in Culpeper, Virginia, and 60 people were arrested at the Washington Capitol.
Protesters claimed that President Trump is 'driving the United States toward fascism with unbridled authority,' and some even turned off their cell phones and ceased social media (SNS) activities due to surveillance concerns.
Regarding this, NPR evaluated that 'although the protests did not occur at the parade site in Washington, D.C., the simultaneous nationwide resistance symbolically highlighted the division in American society and the checks by civil society concerning Trump's military event.'