Washington, D.C. on Monday was like a world divided into two. On the day of Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Army, a large-scale military parade was held at the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument with tanks and helicopters. It is the first time in 34 years that a large-scale military parade has taken place in Washington, D.C., since 1991 during the Gulf War.
At the same time, hundreds of people participated in anti-Trump demonstrations in Lapiet Square, north of the White House. It is not just here. Pickets reading “No Kings” appeared at major urban intersections, plazas, and hypermarkets across the U.S. The National Mall where the military parade took place was a peaceful festival. The U.S. Army marched in military uniforms and weapons from various eras, ranging from cavalry during the Civil War, Sherman tanks used during the Second World War, the latest Abrams tanks, and self-propelled Paladin artillery. The Korean War was also heavily addressed. At one of the sites, citizens touched a tram and heard explanations about weapons. Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning was predicted, but the clear sky until the end of the event allowed citizens to enjoy fireworks late at night.
The Army said 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, 34 horses, two mules and a dog were mobilized for the military parade. President Trump watched the parade on a large stage near the White House with Melania and Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth. When soldiers saluted as they passed by, they stood up and responded with a show of hands.
Some of his supporters even sang happy birthday to President Trump. President Trump also pushed for a military parade in the first term, but at that time, it was not held due to the dissuasion of his staff, but this time, he resolved his long-cherished dream.
Samantha, who drove eight hours from Michigan to Washington, D.C., said she is an active supporter of President Trump, adding, “That alone is a reason to come to see the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Army because my husband is working as a U.S. soldier in Korea.”
Douglas Gerka, who participated in the Vietnam War and was invited as a VIP, said, “Every day is someone’s birthday anyway. President Trump is not acting like a king, he is acting in the national interest.” Outside the venue of the military parade, the atmosphere was quite different. Many protesters in Washington, D.C. and Virginia were covered with slogans such as “We the people” and “We are the Constitution” in the beginning of the preface to the U.S. Constitution. They criticized President Trump for abusing his power by exercising his super constitutional authority. “Does it make sense to spend as much as 45 million dollars on a military parade on your birthday?” said Anna and Felix, a couple who came to Washington D.C. wearing t-shirts with “No Kings” on their own.
The liberal group Indie Secretariat and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have pushed for the 50501 movement (50 states, 50 demonstrations, one voice) in more than 2,000 places across the country. More than 100,000 people gathered in Philadelphia on the day.
More than 50,000 people gathered in New York and 25,000 in Los Angeles. The protest was attended by far more people than expected. Protesters in Silicon Valley, California, marched around Tesla’s showroom and chanted slogans such as “No Trump, No Elon, No Fascism.” They booed Tesla cars passing by. In LA, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, tear gas was fired as protesters clashed with police.
A rally in Minnesota was canceled as a politician was shot due to political conflict. In the early morning of the day, Democratic Representative Melissa Holtman and her spouse were shot and killed by a gunman at their home. The suspect also shot Senator John Hoffman of the same state, but Hoffman was injured. The suspect is an evangelical Christian who opposes abortion and is believed to be a supporter of President Trump.
The crackdown on illegal immigrants, the cause of the protests, is expected to ease somewhat for the time being. “Our great farmers and hotel and leisure business officials said that a very aggressive immigration policy is taking away competent, long-term workers, and jobs are irreplaceable,” President Trump wrote on social media on the 12th.
According to the New York Times (NYT), the U.S. government issued guidelines to local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on the 13th to “stop investigating and activities on agriculture, restaurants, and hotels.”
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
