US President Trump’s Military Parade Draws Sparse Crowd Amid Massive Protests

Washington, DC, June 15, 2025 — President Donald Trump presided over a large-scale military parade on Constitution Avenue, marking a double milestone: the U.S. Army’s sesquicentennial and Trump’s own 79th birthday. The event featured around 6,600 troops, 128 tanks, historical military units, and a ceremonial oath for 250 new recruits.

Highlights & Spectacle

• The parade included Abrams tanks, cavalry, period military attire, flyovers, a 21-gun salute, and a fireworks finale.
• Trump took the stage from behind bulletproof glass, praising the troops and lauding American military might.
• The parade cost between $25–45 million, drawing criticism as a show of “dictator-style” theatrics.

Attendance & Public Reaction

• Despite high expectations, attendance was well below forecasts of 200,000; analysts described the turnout as “sparse” and “underwhelming”, estimated in the low thousands.
• Rain and steamy weather likely contributed to the low crowd turnout.
• Some areas along the parade had hundreds of empty seats; critics said the affair felt more like the Fourth of July than a grand military commemoration.

“No Kings” Movement: Nationwide Protests

• Concurrently, anti-Trump “No Kings” protests erupted in over 2,000 cities, drawing upwards of 5 million participants.
• Demonstrations in cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, Seattle, and Portland ranged from peaceful vigils to confrontations; tear gas was used in some areas.
• Critics condemned the parade as authoritarian theater that politicized the military and marginalized dissent.

Military vs. Politics: Blurred Lines

• Former officials and military experts voiced discomfort over the event’s political overtones—a stark departure from tradition.
• Veterans groups were divided: some supported the tribute, others largely abstained, labeling it a politicized spectacle.
• An AP‑NORC poll showed 60% of Americans considered the parade a poor use of taxpayer money, while just 40% supported it.

Trump’s long-standing desire for a military parade materialized in Washington—a grand but controversial event blending celebration and pageantry. With lukewarm attendance and massive “No Kings” protests overshadowing the spectacle, critics argue it highlighted deep national divisions over the role of the military and executive authority.