Former President Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday with a grand military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The event featured tanks, vintage aircraft, parachute demonstrations, and over 6,000 uniformed soldiers in historical attire. Trump delivered an eight-minute speech emphasizing American strength and pride, stating, “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too.” Despite its patriotic display, the parade was met with criticism for its high cost—estimated up to $45 million—and for taking place amid widespread national protests. Trump’s speech was also scrutinized online, with some accusing Fox News of artificially boosting crowd noise during the broadcast. Critics called the move “sad and pathetic,” while others defended it as a result of varying audio setups.

Simultaneously, massive “No Kings” protests unfolded across the country, including a significant demonstration in Philadelphia. Organized to oppose what activists view as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, the protests attracted an estimated 4 to 6 million participants in over 2,000 cities, becoming one of the largest single-day protest movements in U.S. history. In contrast, Trump’s parade reportedly drew a much smaller crowd than the White House’s claimed 250,000 attendees, with media outlets pointing out numerous empty seats and logistical issues. Public response to the parade illustrated deep political and cultural divides, as supporters praised Trump’s patriotic display while critics saw it as a tone-deaf spectacle amid social unrest and growing dissatisfaction with his leadership style.