Trump salutes ‘bravest fighting force’ at his grand military parade
The massive military parade marking the 250th birthday of the US Army coincided with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, sparking hundreds of ‘No Kings’ rallies.
Donald Trump has thanked the “bravest fighting force ever to stride the face of this earth, the United States” as he delivered a patriotic speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the army – and his own birthday.
Predicting that he would be remembered as a peacemaker and a unifier, the President said: “Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent and totally unpredictable.”
Mr Trump spoke after the grand military parade he had been wanting for years barrelled down Constitution Avenue with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute, playing out against the counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the US leader as a dictator and would-be king.
Mr Trump said the army had kept the US free and strong, and had made the citizens of America all “very proud”. “We salute your noble service,” he said.
He paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of army soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice in the service of America, saying: “Today we commemorate an event that changed the history of the entire world with the creation of the American army on June 14, 1775.”
Mr Trump said over the past two-and-a-half centuries, US soldiers had demonstrated unrivalled valour and had marched into the flames and fury of combat, and leapt into skies thick with smoke and shrapnel.
The Washington crowd, filled with tens of thousands of Trump supporters waving US flags and wearing MAGA hats – as well as a number of protesters – cheered the President as he spoke.
Mr Trump touched on a range of events in US military history, saying there was no
earthly force more powerful than the brave heart” of a US soldier.
Turning to the trenches of Afghanistan, Mr Trump said the army had a record of “untitled and dying glory”.
“In the years ahead and in every generation hence, whoever duty calls – the American soldier will be there,” he said. “No matter the risks, no matter the obstacles.”
Mr Trump said the country was the “hottest country in the world” now and concluded by saying the US would “always have the grace of almighty God and the iron will of the United States Army. Congratulations to everybody”.
The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument.
The procession with more than 6000 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 this year, when the parade was added to an event recognising the army’s 250th anniversary.
Up above, the army’s Golden Knights parachute team appeared in the overcast sky, descending toward the reviewing stand. The team had been scheduled to jump at the end of the parade, but appeared in the skies above the National Mall far earlier than planned as a light rain fell.
At times, Mr Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand. Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the 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.
In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said “Homes not drones” not far from a display of armoured vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the army’s birthday. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise.
Doug Haynes, a navy veteran who voted for Mr Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the army’s 250th birthday, but said that the parade “was a little over the top”. Pointing at a nearby tank, Mr Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a “very bold statement to the world, perhaps”.
Mr Trump had brushed off the possibility of weather or protest disruptions. In a social media post on Saturday morning, he said the “great military parade” would be on “rain or shine”. The protests, he said earlier, “will be met with very big force”.
Hours ahead of the parade, crowds of protesters with anti-Trump signs marched toward the White House, escorted by police vehicles and officers on bicycles. Some held a giant banner that read: “TRUMP MUST GO NOW.”
The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the army’s birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $US45m and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route.
About six in 10 Americans said Saturday’s parade was “not a good use” of government money. The vast majority of people, 78 per cent, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research.
Larry Stallard, a retired American Airlines pilot, 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 are upset about the cost of the event when “they blow that in 10 seconds on things that we don’t even need”.
The daylong display of America’s Army comes as Mr Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation’s military might in ways other US presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor’s permission and dispatched the US Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments.
He similarly sought to project military strength during his first presidential term, saying in 2020 that he wanted forces to “dominate” the streets following racial justice protests that turned violent and warning governors that he was prepared to send in active-duty fighters if they did not call out the National Guard in their states.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump raised eyebrows during a speech at Fort Bragg when members of the 82nd Airborne Division, who were directed to stand behind the President, booed and cheered during his incendiary remarks, including condemnation of his predecessor, Joe Biden. There also was a pop-up “Make America Great Again” merchandise stand nearby selling souvenirs to troops in uniform.
The Defence Department has a doctrine that prohibits troops from participating in political activity while in uniform. Members of Congress and military leaders have expressed concerns about the political displays during the speech at Fort Bragg.
Organisers of the “No Kings” demonstrations said millions had marched in hundreds of events, designed to counter what they 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.
Governors across the US had urged calm and vowed no tolerance for violence, while some mobilised the National Guard ahead of marchers gathering.
Confrontations were isolated. But police in Los Angeles, where protests over federal immigration enforcement raids erupted a week earlier and sparked demonstrations across the country, used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to clear out protesters after the formal event ended. Officers in Portland also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse a crowd that protested in front of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building well into the evening.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, police were investigating a shooting during a march downtown that left one person critically injured.
With AP
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