The military parade starts early in the middle of the precipitation while Trump looks and paints the manifestations of “ no kings ”
The great military parade that President Donald Trump wanted for eight years for eight years launched on Saturday with tanks, troops and a salvation of 21 guns, playing against the counterpoint of the demonstrators across the country which decried the American leader as a dictator and potential king.
The republican president, at his 79th anniversary, was seated on a special observation stand in the south of the White House to look at the display of American military power, which started early while the light rain fell and the dark clouds were taking advantage of. It was a procession that Trump tried to achieve during his first mandate after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never met before this year, when he was added to an event recognizing the army’s 250th anniversary.
A few hours before the start of the parade, the demonstrators proved to be in the streets and parks across the country to denounce the republican president as a potential dictator or king.
They criticized Trump for having used the army for responding to those who protest against his expulsion efforts and for having sent tanks, thousands of troops on walking and military planes for a show in the American capital.
In Washington, anti-war demonstrators precipitated signs that said “the houses not drones” not far from an exhibition of armored vehicles, helicopters and military quality equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the anniversary of the army. The sellers outside the festival sold material marking the military milestone. Others have broke goods on Trump’s theme.
Doug Haynes, a veteran of the navy who voted for Trump, attended the one day festival to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the army, but said that the parade scheduled for later “was a little exaggerated.”
Saying on a nearby tank, Haynes said that riding them in the street is a “very daring declaration in the world, perhaps”.
The military procession was to leave the Lincoln Memorial later Saturday, under threat of stormy time and the accompaniment of demonstrations elsewhere in the city.
Trump postponed the possibility of the two disturbances, with a position of social media on Saturday morning which said that the “great military parade” would be in “rain or shine”. The demonstrations, he said earlier, “will come up against great strength.” Hours before the parade, crowds of demonstrators with anti-top panels walked towards the White House, escorted by police vehicles and bicycle officers. Some have held a giant banner who said: “Trump has to go now.”
The parade was added a few weeks ago to only the planned celebration of the army’s anniversary and aroused criticism for its price up to $ 45 million and the possibility that wood tanks could tear the city streets. The army has taken a variety of measures to protect the streets, including the metal plates placed along the route.
About 6 out of 10 Americans said on Saturday’s parade was “not good use” of government money. The vast majority of people, 78%, said that they did not approve of neither disapprove of nor disapprove of the whole parade, according to a survey by the Associated Press-Noc Center for Public Affairs Research.
The display of the American army day comes when Trump has shown his desire to use the military power of the nation in a way that other American presidents have generally avoided. Last week, he activated the California National Guard without the authorization of the governor and sent the US Marines to ensure security during the Los Angeles demonstrations linked to the immigration raids, which prompted a state trial to stop deployments.
He also sought to project the military force during his first presidential mandate, affirming in 2020 that he wanted the forces to “dominate” the streets following demonstrations of racial justice which transformed violent governors and warning that he was ready to send combatants into active service if they were not called the National Guard in their states.
Earlier this week, Trump raised his eyebrows in a speech to Fort Bragg when members of the 82nd airborne division, who were invited to stand behind Trump, hummed and applauded during his incendiary remarks, including the conviction of his predecessor, Joe Biden. There was also a pop-up “Make America Great Again” goods close to the sale of memories to the troops in uniform.
The Ministry of Defense has a doctrine which prohibits troops from participating in political activity when it is in uniform. Congress members and military leaders expressed concerns about political displays during Fort Bragg’s speech.
The apparatus on Saturday was designed to achieve Trump’s expressed desire for a great parade he tried to make during his first mandate after seeing one in Paris on the day of the Bastille in 2017. Trump said after watching the two-hour procession along the famous Champs-Élysées which he wanted even bigger in Washington.
The event on Saturday should include approximately 6,600 soldiers, 50 helicopters and ABRAMS M1 combat of 60 tonnes, as well as 200,000 participants and increased security to match.
The parade will end up with Constitution avenue, bordered by security fences and barriers. Helicopters and army planes will fly over, and the walk will be capped by a parachute jump, a concert featuring the singer of “God injuries the USA” Lee Greenwood and fireworks.
It remained clear if demonstrations would disrupt the parade, although several hundred demonstrators gathered in the previous hours. Officials said they had no indication of a threat to security.
The “No Kings” rallies – The organizers have chosen the name to support democracy and express themselves against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration – which are taking place in hundreds of cities – were supposed to counter what the organizers say they are Trump’s plans to feed their ego on the 79th anniversary and the day of the flag.
Before a rally and walk towards the White House on Saturday afternoon, around 200 demonstrators gathered in the Northwest Washington Logan Circle and distributed panels and danced to the optimistic music of a local street group, including “This Land Is Your Land”.
The atmosphere was festive when the group chanted “Trump must go now” before bursting into cheers.
A puppet larger than life of Trump has rolled through the crowd, a caricature of the president carrying a crown and seated on golden toilets.
Other demonstrators have agitated pride flags and hoisted signs, some with sharp messages such as “I prefer crushed ice”, referring to the immigration and customs application agency. Other messages were: “The invasion was here on January 6, not in Los Angeles” and “Flip Me off if you are a fascist.”
With the expected rain, there was a chance that the parade could be interrupted by thunderstorms.
The army expects 200,000 people to attend the festival and the parade.
The parade should start at 6.30pm, but parts of it – including the boxes pulled on horseback and other units – start at the Pentagon, go to a bridge and meet some of the heaviest tanks and equipment. Officials did not want the Abrams M1A1 tanks and the Stryker vehicles cross the bridge.
Shot in the minute, the walk will be divided into sections by history – with equipment and troops in full outfit of each period.
It will include a total of 6,169 soldiers and 128 tanks of the army, armored vehicles and artillery, while 62 planes fly above.
At the end of the parade, Trump swears in 250 new troops or rearraising, and the Golden Knights parachute team will jump into the shopping center. This will be followed by a concert and fireworks.
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
