President Donald Trump presided over the largest military parade in decades on Friday, celebrating 250 years of the United States Army in Washington DC.
The event, held on the president’s 79th birthday, featured nearly 7,000 troops, dramatic flyovers and fireworks displays, though rainy weather appeared to dampen the turnout.
During his speech, Trump hailed the country as the “hottest in the world” and promised that the United States would “soon be greater and stronger than ever before.” The president made no mention of the widespread demonstrations staged across the country in opposition to his leadership.
Coinciding with the parade, thousands took to the streets in what activists dubbed the “No Kings” protests, stretching from Los Angeles to Boston. These were the largest anti-Trump demonstrations since his re-election, with protestors branding him a “traitor” and calling for his removal from office.
Tensions escalated further following a deadly shooting in Minnesota, where two Democratic state lawmakers and their spouses were targeted in an attack described by the state’s governor as politically motivated. One of the couples was killed. The incident led to the cancellation of several planned protests in Minnesota out of respect and concern for public safety.
While Trump and his supporters celebrated military might in the capital, the mood across much of the nation was sombre and defiant, highlighting a deeply polarised American landscape.
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