The Washington parade was accompanied by nationwide protests. There was a shooting in Utah

A military parade began in downtown Washington on Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. U.S. President Donald Trump, who turns 79 that day, is taking part in the celebrations.

Events related to the anniversary of the founding of the US Army began in the morning, and the parade itself started through the streets of the city before 6:30 p.m. local time (midnight on Sunday in Poland).

As announced by the organizers, 6.7 thousand soldiers in historical and contemporary uniforms will participate in the parade. Abrams tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Paladin self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS artillery systems, among others, will drive through the capital. Black Hawk helicopters will fly over Washington, and a fireworks show is planned at the end. There is also a parachutist show.

The anniversary of the US Army coincides with the 79th birthday of Trump, who has long been thinking about showcasing the might of the US military in Washington. Trump said he had wanted to organize the parade since 2017, when he watched a military parade in France that made a huge impression on him.

As the president took the stage with first lady Melania Trump, the crowd erupted in applause and shouts of “We love you!”

The celebrations, which take place on the National Mall in Washington, are being criticized by many Americans, who emphasize, among other things, that the funds spent on the parade should be used to support veterans and assess that it is an unnecessary show of military force. On the same day, protests are taking place across the United States under the slogan "Day Without Kings". According to the organizers, it is to be an expression of "rejection of authoritarianism" and a counterweight to Trump's "birthday parade".

Kevin from Virginia, in a typical red MAGA cap and a T-shirt with the president's image, tells PAP: "I'm here because I love Trump, which is probably obvious!" He emphasized that he himself served in the army for 20 years, which is why he treats Saturday's celebrations as his own holiday. "This is a part of me!" he emphasized. He described the anti-Trump protests taking place across the country as "disgusting". "I'm sorry to say this, but they should all be locked up," the man, who is about sixty, said at the end.

Karoline, 26, from Washington told PAP that she came to the parade out of respect for American soldiers. "I'm not a Trump supporter, but I came here because it's an important event for my nation, I want to see the soldiers and the planes fly over. There was an anti-Trump protest in front of my house, my friends went there, but I preferred to be here," emphasized the woman in a hat in the shape of the Statue of Liberty. "Of course Trump says it's his birthday parade, but I'm not here for him," she added.

Along the way to the event, there are numerous stands selling patriotic gadgets, MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats and shirts, and other items related to the president. Because of the high temperature, soldiers are handing out fans with the US Army logo. The line of people wanting to enter the grounds at around 5 p.m. stretched all the way to the Capitol. People also stood in lines with their families to take pictures with military vehicles.

John, around 70, from Alaska, also harshly criticized the American leader in an interview with PAP, calling him a demagogue who divides the country and assessing that the president "behaved like a little boy: I want a parade, so I'll have it." The PAP interviewee noted that his father was also in the army, so he came to the parade to honor the American armed forces. The man emphasized that he supports soldiers and peace and is devastated by the situation in the USA. "You're from Poland? Great, Poles are great!" he added with a smile.

This type of display of military equipment is rare in the United States. The last time soldiers marched through the streets of the capital was in 1991. The cost of organizing the parade is estimated at up to $45 million. About 30 percent of that sum is to cover the costs of repairing the streets of the capital. According to the Army, the celebrations are being financed by more than 20 corporations and foundations.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

sun/ thurs/

Crowds of Americans are marching in cities, towns and cities across the United States on Saturday to protest Donald Trump and his “authoritarian excesses.” The “No Kings” protests are taking place on the president’s birthday and have been going smoothly so far.

According to the organizers of the "Day Without Kings", demonstrations are taking place in over 1,800 locations across the country, and over 1.5 million people have registered to take part.

"In America, we do not tolerate people who would like to be kings. NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the growing authoritarian excesses and corruption of Trump and his allies," organizers announced.

One of the largest gatherings took place in Los Angeles, the site of violent protests against immigration raids, where Trump has sent 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines and imposed a curfew. The local ABC affiliate estimated the crowd, stretching for miles, at at least 100,000, saying it was the largest demonstration in the city since the 2020 anti-police protests following the police killing of George Floyd. Despite earlier tensions, there were no reported incidents.

Large demonstrations are ongoing or have been ongoing in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Houston, among other places. Demonstrators are raising slogans and carrying banners calling on the president to resign, calling him a dictator, demanding an end to the roundup of immigrants, and denouncing his sympathy for Vladimir Putin and other autocrats. Almost all demonstrations have been peaceful; the only exception was a protest in Atlanta, where demonstrators protesting the detention of immigrants clashed with police and tear gas was used.

Organizers canceled all marches in Minnesota, where a pair of local Democratic politicians were assassinated Saturday and where the gunman, who is still at large, was said to have plans to attack the demonstration. Still, a crowd showed up at the state Capitol in St. Paul.

There was no official demonstration in Washington, D.C., where a controversial military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army will take place on Saturday. As one of the organizers, Ezra Levin, explained to USA Today, the idea was to avoid the narrative that the demonstrators are against veterans and the military.

“We made that decision so as not to fuel the narrative that Trump might want us to protest against him directly or give him the opportunity to crack down on protesters,” he said.

Trump suggested Tuesday that he might use the military against "people who hate the country" and who protest the parade, though the White House later said he meant only violent demonstrators.

Still, several smaller, spontaneous protests gathered in the U.S. capital throughout the day, with Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell calling for Trump’s impeachment.

But demonstrations have gathered in several locations around Washington, D.C., in Virginia and Maryland. In Woodbridge, a small Virginia town, more than a thousand people turned out during the day at a busy intersection near a shopping mall, urging drivers to honk their horns in support. Drivers occasionally complied, some waving American flags out their windows. A few supporters of the president roared past the crowd or made obscene gestures at the crowd.

"We are a small community, the protest was not advertised in our country, so the turnout was a very pleasant surprise," Colleen, one of the organizers, told PAP. "We see a lot of older people, young people, there are children, there are people of all races and nationalities. It's nice to see all this, because this is what America looks like today," she added.

Most of the slogans and banners concerned the state of democracy in the US and Trump's accused authoritarian tendencies: "In America, the law is king", "Speak while you still can", "He's turning us into Russia". There was also no shortage of pro-immigration themes, but also pro-Ukrainian ones. "A man without a suit is better than a suit without a man" - read the slogan on a banner with the image of the Ukrainian president. One of the participants modified the state flag of Virginia - showing a tyrant being knocked down by an Amazon - with Trump as a tyrant with a hamburger in his hand.

"Our state motto is 'sic semper tyrannis', or 'this is how tyrants always end up'. It's been a while since that slogan has been so relevant," the man explained.

Corey, a retired teacher, told PAP that he came to the protest out of frustration and helplessness in the face of the president's actions.

"I never expected to see something like this in America: a convicted felon running the country, taking the military out into the streets, spitting on the constitution and norms. This is not what I taught my students in class about our democracy," he said. "But a demonstration like this gives some hope and shows that we are not alone," he added.

From Woodbridge Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

osk/ zm/

A group of protesters booed people leaving Saturday's parade in Washington. "Free Palestine," "This is what democracy looks like," "Shame on you," were shouted at people leaving the celebrations. There were verbal scuffles between the sides.

On Saturday, a parade took place in downtown Washington to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the creation of the US Army, with 6,700 soldiers participating. Dozens of military vehicles drove through the streets of the city, dozens of planes flew over Washington, and drones and robot dogs were also presented. Soldiers previously marched through the streets of the capital in 1991. The costs of organizing the parade are estimated at up to $45 million.

At the end, US President Donald Trump, celebrating his 79th birthday that day, gave a short speech. Trump said that "all other countries are celebrating their victories," so "it's high time for America to do the same."

Trump praised the US military: "As America's enemies have learned time and time again, if you threaten the American people, our soldiers will come after you. Your defeat will be certain. Your defeat will be final. And your downfall will be total and absolute," Trump said from the stage.

People leaving the event were met by a group of several dozen protesters at one of the exits. The demonstrators booed the participants of the celebrations and chanted: "Free Palestine", "Shame on you", "This is what democracy looks like". They held banners with slogans such as "F*ck Trump", "Trump would deport Jesus", "Trump must go", "Stop fascism".

Some of the parade participants did not remain indebted to the demonstrators, and there was verbal scuffle between the two sides. The demonstrators were shown the middle finger and shouted: "Find a job", "USA", "Donald Trump". Many police officers were present at the scene.

On Saturday, protests of thousands were organized across the United States under the slogan "Day without kings". According to the initiators of the action, it is to be an expression of "rejection of authoritarianism" and a counterweight to Trump's "birthday parade". On the National Mall, where parade spectators gathered, PAP also saw several people with banners with anti-Trump slogans, such as "The king is naked". In turn, a man wearing a MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat waved a poster with the words "Trump for king".

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

sun/ thurs/

One person was seriously injured in a shooting at a protest against US President Donald Trump in Salt Lake City. The perpetrator has been arrested.

According to Salt Lake City police, one person was hospitalized in critical condition following the shooting, and the suspected attacker was detained.

The circumstances of the shooting are still unknown. Protest organizers told the local NBC affiliate that the perpetrator was likely an “agitator” and the victim a protester.

Video footage from the protest shows people running away in panic after hearing the gunshots.

The protest in Salt Lake City was one of nearly 2,000 "no kings" demonstrations against Donald Trump across the country. In Minnesota, protests were called off after earlier politically motivated attacks on two prominent Democratic politicians near Minneapolis. Police suspected that the perpetrator, identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, may have been planning an attack on the demonstrations. He allegedly had 70 Democratic politicians on his list of targets. (PAP)

osk/ zm/

A military parade began in downtown Washington on Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. U.S. President Donald Trump, who turns 79 that day, is taking part in the celebrations.

Events related to the anniversary of the founding of the US Army began in the morning, and the parade itself started through the streets of the city before 6:30 p.m. local time (midnight on Sunday in Poland).

As announced by the organizers, 6.7 thousand soldiers in historical and contemporary uniforms will participate in the parade. Abrams tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Paladin self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS artillery systems, among others, will drive through the capital. Black Hawk helicopters will fly over Washington, and a fireworks show is planned at the end. There is also a parachutist show.

The anniversary of the US Army coincides with the 79th birthday of Trump, who has long been thinking about showcasing the might of the US military in Washington. Trump said he had wanted to organize the parade since 2017, when he watched a military parade in France that made a huge impression on him.

As the president took the stage with first lady Melania Trump, the crowd erupted in applause and shouts of “We love you!”

The celebrations, which take place on the National Mall in Washington, are being criticized by many Americans, who emphasize, among other things, that the funds spent on the parade should be used to support veterans and assess that it is an unnecessary show of military force. On the same day, protests are taking place across the United States under the slogan "Day Without Kings". According to the organizers, it is to be an expression of "rejection of authoritarianism" and a counterweight to Trump's "birthday parade".

Kevin from Virginia, in a typical red MAGA cap and a T-shirt with the president's image, tells PAP: "I'm here because I love Trump, which is probably obvious!" He emphasized that he himself served in the army for 20 years, which is why he treats Saturday's celebrations as his own holiday. "This is a part of me!" he emphasized. He described the anti-Trump protests taking place across the country as "disgusting". "I'm sorry to say this, but they should all be locked up," the man, who is about sixty, said at the end.

Karoline, 26, from Washington told PAP that she came to the parade out of respect for American soldiers. "I am not a Trump supporter, but I came here because it is an important event for my nation, I want to see the soldiers and the planes fly over. There was an anti-Trump protest in front of my house, my friends went there, but I preferred to be here," emphasized the woman in a hat in the shape of the Statue of Liberty. "Of course Trump says it is his birthday parade, but I am not here for him," she added.

Along the way to the event, there are numerous stands selling patriotic gadgets, MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats and shirts, and other items related to the president. Because of the high temperature, soldiers are handing out fans with the US Army logo. The line of people wanting to enter the grounds at around 5 p.m. stretched all the way to the Capitol. People also stood in lines with their families to take pictures with military vehicles.

John, around 70, from Alaska, also harshly criticized the American leader in an interview with PAP, calling him a demagogue who divides the country and assessing that the president "behaved like a little boy: I want a parade, so I'll have it." The PAP interviewee noted that his father was also in the army, so he came to the parade to honor the American armed forces. The man emphasized that he supports soldiers and peace and is devastated by the situation in the USA. "You're from Poland? Great, Poles are great!" he added with a smile.

This type of display of military equipment is rare in the United States. The last time soldiers marched through the streets of the capital was in 1991. The cost of organizing the parade is estimated at up to $45 million. About 30 percent of that sum is to cover the costs of repairing the streets of the capital. According to the Army, the celebrations are being financed by more than 20 corporations and foundations.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

sun/ thurs/

Crowds of Americans are marching in cities, towns and cities across the United States on Saturday to protest Donald Trump and his “authoritarian excesses.” The “No Kings” protests are taking place on the president’s birthday and have been going smoothly so far.

According to the organizers of the "Day Without Kings", demonstrations are taking place in over 1,800 locations across the country, and over 1.5 million people have registered to take part.

"In America, we do not tolerate people who would like to be kings. NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the growing authoritarian excesses and corruption of Trump and his allies," organizers announced.

One of the largest gatherings took place in Los Angeles, the site of violent protests against immigration raids, where Trump has sent 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines and imposed a curfew. The local ABC affiliate estimated the crowd, stretching for miles, at at least 100,000, saying it was the largest demonstration in the city since the 2020 anti-police protests following the police killing of George Floyd. Despite earlier tensions, there were no reported incidents.

Large demonstrations are ongoing or have been ongoing in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Houston, among other places. Demonstrators are raising slogans and carrying banners calling on the president to resign, calling him a dictator, demanding an end to the roundup of immigrants, and denouncing his sympathy for Vladimir Putin and other autocrats. Almost all demonstrations have been peaceful; the only exception was a protest in Atlanta, where demonstrators protesting the detention of immigrants clashed with police and tear gas was used.

Organizers canceled all marches in Minnesota, where a pair of local Democratic politicians were assassinated Saturday and where the gunman, who is still at large, was said to have plans to attack the demonstration. Still, a crowd showed up at the state Capitol in St. Paul.

There was no official demonstration in Washington, D.C., where a controversial military parade will take place on Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. As one of the organizers, Ezra Levin, explained to USA Today, the idea was to avoid the narrative that the demonstrators are against veterans and the military.

“We made that decision so as not to fuel the narrative that Trump might want us to protest against him directly or give him the opportunity to crack down on protesters,” he said.

Trump suggested Tuesday that he might use the military against "people who hate the country" and who protest the parade, though the White House later said he meant only violent demonstrators.

Still, several smaller, spontaneous protests gathered in the U.S. capital throughout the day, with Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell calling for Trump’s impeachment.

But demonstrations have gathered in several locations around Washington, D.C., in Virginia and Maryland. In Woodbridge, a small Virginia town, more than a thousand people turned out during the day at a busy intersection near a shopping mall, urging drivers to honk their horns in support. Drivers occasionally complied, some waving American flags out their windows. A few supporters of the president roared past the crowd or made obscene gestures at the crowd.

"We are a small community, the protest was not advertised in our country, so the turnout was a very pleasant surprise," Colleen, one of the organizers, told PAP. "We see a lot of older people, young people, there are children, there are people of all races and nationalities. It's nice to see all this, because this is what America looks like today," she added.

Most of the slogans and banners concerned the state of democracy in the US and Trump's accused authoritarian tendencies: "In America, the law is king", "Speak while you still can", "He's turning us into Russia". There was also no shortage of pro-immigration themes, but also pro-Ukrainian ones. "A man without a suit is better than a suit without a man" - read the slogan on a banner with the image of the Ukrainian president. One of the participants modified the state flag of Virginia - showing a tyrant being knocked down by an Amazon - with Trump as a tyrant with a hamburger in his hand.

"Our state motto is 'sic semper tyrannis', or 'this is how tyrants always end up'. It's been a while since that slogan has been so relevant," the man explained.

Corey, a retired teacher, told PAP that he came to the protest out of frustration and helplessness in the face of the president's actions.

"I never expected to see something like this in America: a convicted felon running the country, taking the military out into the streets, spitting on the constitution and norms. This is not what I taught my students in class about our democracy," he said. "But a demonstration like this gives some hope and shows that we are not alone," he added.

From Woodbridge Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

osk/ zm/

A group of protesters booed people leaving Saturday's parade in Washington. "Free Palestine," "This is what democracy looks like," "Shame on you," were shouted at people leaving the celebrations. There were verbal scuffles between the sides.

On Saturday, a parade took place in downtown Washington to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the creation of the US Army, with 6,700 soldiers participating. Dozens of military vehicles drove through the streets of the city, dozens of planes flew over Washington, and drones and robot dogs were also presented. Soldiers previously marched through the streets of the capital in 1991. The costs of organizing the parade are estimated at up to $45 million.

At the end, US President Donald Trump, celebrating his 79th birthday that day, gave a short speech. Trump said that "all other countries are celebrating their victories," so "it's high time for America to do the same."

Trump praised the US military: "As America's enemies have learned time and time again, if you threaten the American people, our soldiers will come after you. Your defeat will be certain. Your defeat will be final. And your downfall will be total and absolute," Trump said from the stage.

People leaving the event were met by a group of several dozen protesters at one of the exits. The demonstrators booed the participants of the celebrations and chanted: "Free Palestine", "Shame on you", "This is what democracy looks like". They held banners with slogans such as "F*ck Trump", "Trump would deport Jesus", "Trump must go", "Stop fascism".

Some of the parade participants did not remain indebted to the demonstrators, and there was verbal scuffle between the two sides. The demonstrators were shown the middle finger and shouted: "Find a job", "USA", "Donald Trump". Many police officers were present at the scene.

On Saturday, protests of thousands were organized across the United States under the slogan "Day without kings". According to the initiators of the action, it is to be an expression of "rejection of authoritarianism" and a counterweight to Trump's "birthday parade". On the National Mall, where parade spectators gathered, PAP also saw several people with banners with anti-Trump slogans, such as "The king is naked". In turn, a man wearing a MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat waved a poster with the words "Trump for king".

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

sun/ thurs/

One person was seriously injured in a shooting at a protest against US President Donald Trump in Salt Lake City. The perpetrator has been arrested.

According to Salt Lake City police, one person was hospitalized in critical condition following the shooting, and the suspected attacker was detained.

The circumstances of the shooting are still unknown. Protest organizers told the local NBC affiliate that the perpetrator was likely an “agitator” and the victim a protester.

Video footage from the protest shows people running away in panic after hearing the gunshots.

The protest in Salt Lake City was one of nearly 2,000 "no kings" demonstrations against Donald Trump across the country. In Minnesota, protests were called off after earlier politically motivated attacks on two prominent Democratic politicians near Minneapolis. Police suspected that the perpetrator, identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, may have been planning an attack on the demonstrations. He allegedly had 70 Democratic politicians on his list of targets. (PAP)

osk/ zm/