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Trump hosts huge military parade as protesters rally across US against his presidency – BBC

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US Military Parades DC On Trump's 79th Birthday
BBC News
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US Military Parades DC On Trump's 79th Birthday
BBC News
President Donald Trump is hosting the military's largest parade in decades in Washington DC, marking 250 years of the US Army – click watch live at the top of this page to see the spectacle
The Republican president is to address the event, which will involve nearly 7,000 soldiers and was to include flyovers and fireworks
Thousands are expected to attend the parade in the nation's capital, which falls on Trump's 79th birthday
Anti-Trump groups planned hundreds of demonstrations across the country to coincide with the parade
The "No Kings" demonstrations from New York to Los Angeles are the largest against the president since he was re-elected
Protests in Minnesota were called off after the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker, which the state's governor said was politically motivated





Edited by Jude Sheerin, with Bernd Debusmann Jr in Washington DC and Regan Morris in Los Angeles
US President Donald Trump watches the procession of soldiers march past his viewpoint of the parade on Constitution Avenue as he celebrates his 79th birthday – and the US Army celebrates its 250th.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC
Here on the parade route, the Abrams tanks appear to be a fan favourite and elicited more cheers and waves that the various units that preceded them – with the possible exception of the Vietnam-era Huey helicopters.
The soldiers appear to be enjoying it as well, and those able – if riding on vehicles – are waving to the crowds and smiling.
There are "USA, USA" chants here and there and brief moments of applause, but the crowd is surprisingly muted.
The crowd here appears to be smaller than anticipated. Across Constitution Avenue from the press area, there is a set of largely empty bleachers for special guests and their families.
We can bring you more photos from the parade as tanks and soldiers march on Constitution Avenue and in front of the viewing stands holding President Trump and other officials.
US President Donald Trump and guests watch as members of the US Army parade down Constitution Avenue
Members of the U.S Army in period-specific uniforms participate in the 250th birthday parade
US soldiers march during 250th Army parade
Members of the military in historic uniforms march during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC
I covered the Trump 2024 campaign at length – and this event, while officially a celebration of the Army, has very much the same atmosphere as a Trump rally.
For every Army hat, there is a red MAGA hat. Trump memorabilia is being sold alongside Army memorabilia – and the vendors are doing brisk business.
Many interviews I've done have turned into extended discussions of support for Trump.
"Trump is the greatest president ever, and the troops love him," said John Mills, a 33-year veteran of the Army. "We've had totally indoctrinated leaders with mush for brains in the past. Basically the Deep State."
"There are a lot of people around, in this city, who don't like Trump," he added. "That's their problem. We are here to celebrate."
Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Reporting from Washington DC
Perhaps the most pressing concern for local officials and residents from the military parade is the potential for road damage.
The army says it has budgeted about $16m (£11m) for damage to local roads caused by heavy tanks rolling down a section of DC’s ceremonial core. It also says it has put in measures to minimise damage.
“Primarily it is metal plating that's being put down to address those areas where tanks have to steer sharply,” Colonel Jesse Curry of the Army Corps of Engineers told a recent briefing.
“What you can also see during the parade is the tanks all have brand new rubber track pads placed on them which increase the padding they have underneath each track to minimize that potential damage.”
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC
I just caught my first sight of the president – a long distance from the press area.
He's standing next to First Lady Melania Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Just a few minutes ago, Trump stood to attention and saluted as the national anthem was played.
We've now moved on to a history lesson about the revolutionary war, in which American forces, led by George Washington, defeated the British.
Members of the US Army driving in a Sherman tank participate in the 250th birthday parade
Soldiers in period dress and driving army equipment of different wars are marching on the parade grounds.
We are watching Army vehicles and tanks from World War One and World War Two filing past.
Soldiers dressed in World War Two uniforms march in the military parade
US Army's paratroopers Golden Knights are descending from the grey Washington skies.
One of them is presenting a US flag to the president after landing.
About 7,000 uniformed soldiers are expected to take part in the parade, which will include dozens of tanks and military vehicles, plus marching bands.
President Trump has also promised "breath-taking flyovers".
The parade will be broken up into segments representing different wars the US has been involved in, starting with the Korean War and moving forwards through time to the Global War on Terror, according to the programme.
The festivities will end with a speech from Trump, then a fireworks show.
Soldiers dressed in modern uniforms – as well as in historical uniforms from the US Revolution and Civil War – are marching in the parade, as tanks enter Washington from across the river in Virginia.
Soldiers march in Washington
US soldiers dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms march in Washington
US soldiers dressed in Union uniforms march in Washington
Tanks cross into Washington
Soldiers are marching as the military parade in Washington gets under way.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC
When Washington DC native Melvin Graves returned from fighting in Vietnam, he got no parade.
Graves, a 22-year combat veteran of the infantry, fought there in 1969 – a time of fierce battles and in which the war was deeply unpopular with a majority of Americans.
This parade, he tells me, is something that is special to him.
"This about as close as we'll get to having a parade coming home after Vietnam," he says.
Being from Washington DC – a city that voted overwhelmingly against President Trump – Graves is keenly aware that the parade is not without controversy.
That doesn't concern him.
"Yes, it's political. There's a political meaning behind it," he says sternly. "But you get past that.
"This is about going to honour these men and women who served, to thank them for their service."
President Donald Trump is arriving at a staging ground at the Ellipse where he will be viewing the parade.
The parade began 30 minutes ahead of schedule because of rain.
The president is joined by his wife Melania, his children and grandchildren. Senior cabinet officials are also on the stage.
There is a gun salute as he walks to the stage.
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President Trump arrives at the Army's 250th anniversary parade
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC
It's starting to trickle rain at the parade ground, which organisers had anticipated.
It's so far just a few drops, but the forecast earlier predicted heavy rains and potentially thunder, which could scupper some of the aerial displays that were planned for the parade.
Journalists in the press area are currently scrambling to cover their gear in plastic and donning raincoats.
I've taken cover under a large umbrella, prompting a parade-goer to tell me to "stop being so soft".
We're expecting the parade to start about half an hour early because of the uncertain weather. So it could begin any minute.
Meiying Wu and Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Reporting from Washington DC
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Watch: 'I'm all for it' – What Americans make of Trump's military parade
At the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, ordinary Americans stopped to chat with us about the military parade. Their views were mixed.
Regan Morris
Reporting from Los Angeles
In downtown Los Angeles, several thousand protesters held a rally that stretched nearly a dozen city blocks.
Jose Azetcla was at the "No Kings" protest, demonstrating against President Trump's immigration policies.
"The injustices, the evil behind Trump’s adminstration – it’s not harsh, it’s evil. You don’t separate families," says Azetcla, a member of the civil rights group the Brown Berets.
The Brown Berets were founded in Los Angeles in the 1960s during the Chicano Civil Rights Movement.
At today's protest, US flags, many flown upside down, far outnumbered the Mexican flags that were seen in abundance last week in the city during anti-Trump unrest that was marred by looting, vandalism and violence.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from parade route
I've been slowly working my way through the crowd at the parade – and one common thread I've heard so far is overwhelming patriotism and pride in the US military.
Just a few moments ago, I spoke to Myra Jolie, a naturalised US citizen who lives in Florida.
For Jolie, today's parade is about showing American strength.
"It was time for this. Time for America to flex its muscles," she tells me.
"It's time for America to show the world that we are not going to be the floor mat for everybody anymore."
Jolie is an outspoken supporter of President Trump, and believes the parade shows the "peace through strength" ethos that the president often touts.
"These are some of our little toys, but not all of them," she tells me, gesturing at a tank nearby. "When we talk about peace through strength, we really mean it."
Travellers flying in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will have a wait ahead of them as the airport and airspace near the parade are closed to civilian traffic.
The Federal Aviation Administration will suspend flights at the airport – known by its international code, DCA – from 18:00 EDT (22:00 GMT) to 21:30 EDT.
DCA is the preferred airport for locals and Congress members alike. As such, its closure will be a big inconvenience to residents.
The airport was shut for 14 hours in January after a mid-air collision between a plane and an Army Blackhawk helicopter. All 67 people aboard both aircrafts died.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from parade route
Shortly after passing through the security gates – a bit of an arduous process – I made the long and hot walk to the media section near the parade ground.
I'm a few hundred metres from the viewing area where President Trump and other officials will be watching the parade.
At the moment, there are two M1 Abrams tanks parked in front.
This model of tank – the backbone of the Army's armoured units – will play an important role in the parade today.
Each of these has a crew of four and weighs 68 tonnes, which has led to some concern about potential damage to Washington's streets.
While the Abrams has played a role in the US Army since the 1980s, in more recent years they have been sent to Ukraine, where they have reportedly performed well in combat despite some logistical difficulties and attacks from Russian drones.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from parade route
I arrived at the parade grounds very early – about 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT).
Already, there were several hundred people – perhaps even 1,000 – waiting to line up through an entrance on the National Mall.
Many had just come from a fairground set up between here and the Capitol, where dozens of people were still congregating around Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles and military helicopters.
It's hot – over 80F (27C) – and extremely humid. I'm drenched in sweat, as is everyone out here, including serving soldiers, the Secret Service and the attendees.
"I'm excited," said Norma McDaniel, who came here from the nearby state of Virginia. "But I didn't think I would get this sweaty already."
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