U.S. Army Marks 250th Anniversary with Military Parade Amid National Protests

The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday with a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The event, long envisioned by Trump as a demonstration of American military power, featured marching troops, armored vehicles, and aircraft flyovers along the National Mall. Supporters praised the show of strength, while critics warned it blurred the line between military tradition and political theater.

Across the country, protests organized under the banner “No Kings” challenged what demonstrators called a politicization of the armed forces and a departure from democratic norms. Rallies were held in multiple cities, including Washington, with participants voicing concern over the growing role of the military in domestic affairs under Trump’s leadership. The day’s events highlighted the sharp political divide shaping public discourse ahead of the next election cycle.