Trump commemorates birthday after day of protests without kings with large military march

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President Donald Trump’s long-sought military parade rolled though the streets of downtown Washington DC on Sunday, but the celebration of the US Army’s 250th anniversary was marred by a day of violence and discord.

In the hours before the parade began, hundreds of thousands of Americans marched and rallied in streets in cities from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, protesting Trump’s actions while in office, in the largest such actions since his return to power in January.

The scene as US Army personnel and military equipment are reviewed by President Donald J. Trump during a parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army

Military parades are a more common sight in capitals like Moscow and Pyongyang than Washington, but Trump has openly expressed his wishes for one since his first term. Source: SIPA USA / Kenny Holston

The parade, which falls on Trump’s 79th birthday, kicked off earlier than expected with thunderstorms forecast in the Washington area.

“Every other country celebrates their victories, it’s about time America did too,” Trump told the crowd following the parade.

The celebrations were expected to cost the US Army between $38 million and $69 million. 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.

Nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests

Earlier in the day, thousands marched in Washington and in other cities in protest of Trump’s policies. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, and marked the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump’s presidency since he returned to power in January.

Thousands of New Yorkers march in opposition of Donald Trump's presidency on the day of the military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army

Thousands of New Yorkers marched in opposition of Donald Trump’s presidency on the day of the Washington military parade honouring the US Army’s 250th anniversary as well as the president’s 79th birthday. Source: Getty / Alex Kent

In Los Angeles, however, police, some on horseback, used flash-bang grenades and tear gas to push back a crowd of protesters around the federal building that has been a focus of much of the demonstrations.

Earlier, the crowd had yelled at the Marines guarding the facility, “Shame! Shame!” and “Marines, get out of LA!”

Anti-Trump groups planned nearly 2,000 demonstrations across the country to coincide with the parade. Many took place under the theme “No Kings,” asserting that no individual is above the law.

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 colors.

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.’”