Millions of Americans are mobilizing today in a historic wave of protests against President Donald Trump’s authoritarian policies and the increasing militarization of democracy in the United States.
Under the banner “No Kings,” approximately 2,000 protests are anticipated across the country, aiming to challenge Trump’s blatant disregard for the rule of law and his continuous circumvention of constitutional limits.
These demonstrations coincide with a grand military parade set to unfold in Washington D.C., intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, while also marking Trump’s 79th birthday.
The parade is to be an extravagant display with 6,000 troops, 28 Abrams tanks, 128 military vehicles, and 49 aircraft marching down Constitution Avenue, carrying an estimated taxpayer cost of $25 million to $45 million.
While Pentagon officials defend the parade as a tribute to military history, protest leaders criticize it as a show of vanity and a reflection of Trump’s obsession with spectacle and power.
The organizers of the “No Kings” protests aim to present a stark contrast between their grassroots movement and what they consider the extravagant and un-American display of the military parade in Washington.
“In America, we don’t do kings,” is their rallying cry, with aspirations to highlight what they see as excessive militarization.
In a light-hearted response to the protests, President Trump remarked, “I don’t feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,” eliciting laughter from allies at a White House briefing.
The protests arrive after a series of growing demonstrations across various American cities, particularly pronounced in Los Angeles, where 200 “No Kings” events were planned.
Anger has consolidated over aggressive immigration raids executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), often performed without warrants and targeting immigrants who have taken legal routes.
Tensions escalated after Trump unilaterally dispatched thousands of National Guard troops to California, a decision made without the consent of Governor Gavin Newsom, further spotlighting concerns over his disregard for constitutional norms.
In characteristic style, Trump warned against demonstrators, stating, “By the way, for those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force.
And I haven’t even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country.”
Republican officials appear prepared to respond with force, issuing threats of criminal charges against protesters.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott revealed plans to deploy over 5,000 National Guard troops alongside 2,000 state troopers to confront anti-ICE protests in the state’s hotspots.
This follows the deployment of Guard units to San Antonio in reaction to local unrest.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned: “The minute you cross into attacking law enforcement, any type of rioting, any type of vandalism, looting — just be prepared to have the law come down on you.”
In South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a stark warning to what he described as “extremist left-leaning groups,” emphasizing that any attack on officers, property destruction, or threats to lives will result in severe legal consequences.
The protest activities today reflect a growing discontent among Americans, focusing not only on the military parade but also on the administration’s policies that many perceive as increasingly authoritarian.
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