Military parade rolls through Washington as protesters across US decry Trump

Despite concerns about lightning and thunderstorms, the rain held to a slight drizzle during the march of soldiers and machinery.

Heavy cloud cover and low visibility seemed to contribute to less of an aircraft presence in the parade.

Tear gas

As the parade was underway, police in Los Angeles fired tear gas and flash bangs to try to disperse demonstrators challenging immigration raids. Clouds of gas wafted toward a family-friendly demonstration that had been going on for hours outside City Hall.

The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Mr 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 recognising the Army’s 250th anniversary.

“Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too,” Mr Trump declared in brief remarks at the parade’s end.

The president praised the strength of the military’s fighting forces and said US soldiers “fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win” — putting a new twist on a line he regularly delivered during his 2024 campaign rallies after he survived an assassination attempt.

At times, Mr Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand.

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.

Opposition

Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to voice opposition to the Republican president.

They criticised Mr Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the US capital.

As armoured vehicles rolled down the street in front of the president, on the other side of the country the Marines he 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.

In Washington, hundreds protesting Mr Trump carried signs with messages that included “Where’s the due process?” and “No to Trump’s fascist military parade” as they marched toward the White House.

A larger-than-life puppet of Mr Trump was wheeled through the crowd, a caricature of the president wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet.

Other protesters waved Pride flags and hoisted signs, some with pointed messages such as “I prefer crushed ICE,” referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Other messages included: “The invasion was HERE Jan. 6th, NOT in LA” and “Flip me off if you’re a FASCIST.”

Ego

“No Kings” rallies unfolded in hundreds of cities, designed to counter what organisers said were Mr Trump’s plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day.

Organisers said they picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration.

On the National Mall, a display of armoured vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment was set up to commemorate the Army’s birthday.

Vendors outside the army festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise.

Larry Stallard, a retired American Airlines pilot, said he travelled to Washington from Kansas City for the weekend “to see the military and see Trump.”

Mr Stallard, who voted for Mr Trump, said it was “hard to believe” people were upset about the cost of the event when “they blow that in 10 seconds on things that we don’t even need”.

The parade was added just two months ago to the long-planned celebration of the army’s birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to 45 million dollars (£33 million) and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets.

About six in 10 Americans said Saturday’s parade was “not a good use” of government money.

The vast majority of people, 78%, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research.