WASHINGTON D.C. (Headline News USA) (Copyright © 2025) — The cannons roared, helicopters thundered overhead, and tanks rolled down Constitution Avenue as the United States Army marked its 250th anniversary with a grand military parade on Friday. But just beyond the steel barricades and stage lights, a different kind of noise filled the air — chants from protesters, warnings from law enforcement, and the low thrum of national tension.

Officially billed as the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and Celebration, the event was held on Flag Day and coincided with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. That overlap alone set off a firestorm of debate.

Organized under Trump’s direction during his second term, the parade featured more than 6,600 soldiers representing every major era of Army history — from Revolutionary War reenactors to modern infantry divisions — alongside 150 military vehicles, dozens of aircraft, drones, and even a robotic quadruped known as the Ghost Robotics V60 (Wikipedia).

At the Ellipse, performances by country singer Warren Zeiders and longtime Trump supporter Lee Greenwood capped off the evening, followed by fireworks near the National Mall. The entire affair was broadcast live across networks including Fox News, Newsmax, and C-SPAN.

But if the administration hoped the parade would serve as a unifying show of patriotism, the day told a more fractured story.

Across more than 2,000 cities, millions joined the “No Kings” protests — a sprawling, decentralized movement that criticized the parade’s perceived political overtones and broader Trump-era policies. The protests, organized in part by the 50501 movement, became the largest coordinated demonstrations since the start of Trump’s second term (Wikipedia).

Violence flared in several locations. In Culpepper, Virginia, a man drove an SUV into a group of demonstrators, injuring at least one person. Authorities identified the driver as Joseph R. Checklick Jr., who was arrested on reckless driving charges and held without bail (The Guardian).

In San Francisco, four protesters were struck by a car in what police are investigating as a “possible intentional act.” Texas closed its state capitol grounds following what officials called a “credible threat” aimed at protest participants.

And in Minnesota, two state lawmakers and their spouses were shot early Saturday. State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed. Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded but are expected to survive. Authorities are investigating both incidents as politically motivated attacks (The Guardian).

Back in Washington, the atmosphere around the parade itself was uneasy. Veterans groups were split on participation. The Northern Virginia chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America declined to join, with chapter president Jay Kalner saying, “If it were just a matter of celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday, there’d be no question,” but added, “we felt it was being conflated with Trump’s birthday, and we didn’t want to be a prop for that” (Wikipedia).

Crowd turnout appeared thinner than expected. Despite forecasts of “hundreds of thousands” of attendees, reporters noted many empty bleachers and sparse foot traffic. A light drizzle didn’t help. “Nobody knows what’s going on,” one Secret Service officer reportedly told The Guardian, which described overflowing trash cans, too few exits, and poor signage throughout the event area.

The estimated cost — between $25 million and $45 million — drew bipartisan skepticism. While the Army implemented protective measures to minimize road damage, including steel plates and rubberized tank pads, the Army Corps of Engineers still estimated a worst-case scenario of $16 million in street repairs (Wikipedia).

“This administration does not have a credible history of telling the truth about anything,” said Rep. Steve Cohen, who dismissed the budget projections as low-ball figures. Senator Tammy Duckworth added she would “rather the Army spend the money on childcare and tuition reimbursement for military families” (Wikipedia).

Even some Republicans balked. Sen. Susan Collins said “the cost does seem a bit steep,” and Sen. Ron Johnson flatly stated, “If it costs money, I won’t go.” Others, like Sen. Roger Wicker, called it “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for young Americans to witness the Army’s capabilities (Wikipedia).

The Army maintained the event was two years in the making, but acknowledged that Trump’s request for a parade came more recently. In previous years, similar proposals were blocked by Pentagon leaders who were wary of politicizing the military. This time, approval came swiftly.

Trump himself attempted to deflect attention from the overlap with his birthday. “I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday. Somebody put it together,” he said. “It’s a very important day” (Wikipedia).

Nonetheless, the parade’s tone and optics raised red flags among defense officials and political scientists. Dr. Risa Brooks of Marquette University noted that while the U.S. military has a tradition of professionalism, “tanks rolling down streets of the capital” project a very different image — one more commonly associated with authoritarian displays than civic commemoration (Wikipedia).

A June 12 AP-NORC poll captured the public’s ambivalence. Sixty percent of respondents said the parade was not a good use of government funds. Forty percent supported the event; 29 percent opposed it; and 31 percent had no opinion (Wikipedia).

In the end, the Army got its moment. But the day — caught between a show of force and a wave of dissent — painted a complicated portrait of a nation still at odds with itself.

Image by Military_Material from Pixabay