Trump’s birthday parade marches amid ‘No Kings’ protests and a manhunt for a political assassin

On 14 June Washington, D.C., became a microcosm of America’s deepening divisions as President Donald Trump presided over a grand military parade to mark his 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, while “No Kings” protests erupted nationwide.

The spectacle, featuring 7,000 troops, tanks, paratroopers delivering a ceremonial gift, and barbecues, unfolded against a grim backdrop: a manhunt for a suspect in the politically motivated assassination of a Democratic congresswoman and her husband, with another state lawmaker and his spouse wounded in Minnesota.

As Reuters reported, the Trump administration’s gutting of programs aimed at preventing targeted violence, such as the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) initiative, has drawn sharp criticism amid this surge of political unrest. The juxtaposition of Trump’s celebratory parade, the protests decrying his authoritarian tendencies, and the spectre of political violence underscores a nation fractured by ideology, mistrust, and escalating tensions.

A celebration of power

Trump’s military parade, a rare display in modern U.S. history, transformed D.C.’s streets into a stage for pageantry. Organised to coincide with his birthday and the Army’s milestone, the event featured flyovers, armoured vehicles, and a massive birthday cake, with Trump addressing cheering supporters from a reviewing stand. Posts on X, such as one by @JaneNorman, described the scene as a “Trump takeover,” with 7,000 military personnel and paratroopers delivering a symbolic gift, evoking comparisons to authoritarian spectacles abroad.

The event, costing an estimated $10 million according to The Washington Post, was framed by Trump as a tribute to American strength, but critics, including Democratic lawmakers, condemned it as a self-aggrandizing stunt amid national turmoil. The parade’s timing, just hours after the Minnesota shootings, amplified accusations of insensitivity, with @JesselynRadack on X calling it a “hijacking” of military honour for personal glorification.

Trump’s embrace of such displays is not new. His first term saw proposals for a similar parade inspired by France’s Bastille Day, though cost and logistical concerns shelved it. In 2025, with a Republican-controlled Congress and a loyal base, Trump faced fewer obstacles.

‘No Kings’ protests: a cry against autocracy

Across the country, the “No Kings” protests, sparked by Trump’s return to power and his aggressive policies, drew thousands to city centres. The movement, rooted in opposition to what protesters call Trump’s “monarchical” tendencies, gained momentum after his January 2025 inauguration, with rallies in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Demonstrators waved signs reading “No Kings, No Dictators,” decrying Trump’s immigration crackdowns, media attacks, and the parade’s militaristic overtones.

The New York Times reported clashes with police in Minneapolis, where protesters linked the shootings to Trump’s rhetoric, citing his calls to “root out disloyal elements” as incitement.

The protests reflect broader unease with Trump’s second term, which has seen executive actions bypassing Congress and a purge of federal agencies deemed “disloyal.”

The “No Kings” slogan, inspired by a 2024 Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, has become a rallying cry for those fearing a slide into autocracy, with organisers demanding checks on executive power and electoral reforms.

The Minnesota shootings: a nation on edge

The deadly shooting of a Democratic congresswoman and her husband, alongside the wounding of another Minnesota lawmaker and his spouse, has intensified national tensions. The suspect, described by authorities as a “fake cop” impersonating law enforcement, remains at large, prompting a multistate manhunt. Reuters reported that the attacks, labelled politically motivated, occurred late on June 13, 2025, hours before the D.C. parade. Initial investigations suggest the shooter targeted the lawmakers over their vocal opposition to Trump’s policies, including his deportation agenda and rollback of gun control measures.

The shootings have reignited debates over political violence, with Democrats pointing to Trump’s rhetoric as a catalyst. The attack follows a pattern of rising threats against lawmakers, with the Capitol Police reporting a 50% increase in threats since 2021.

Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have linked the violence to the Trump administration’s decision to slash funding for the DHS’s TVTP program, which supported community-based efforts to counter extremism. A 2024 DHS report warned that defunding TVTP, which provided $20 million annually to local organizations, would weaken prevention efforts, leaving communities vulnerable to ideologically driven attacks. The program’s dismantling, part of Trump’s broader budget cuts to “woke” initiatives, has left law enforcement reliant on reactive measures, with no clear strategy to address the growing threat of domestic extremism.

A fractured political landscape

The events of 14 June echo global trends of polarisation. Trump’s parade, framed as a patriotic spectacle, contrasts starkly with the “No Kings” protests and the Minnesota tragedy, highlighting a nation divided by competing visions of governance. Supporters view Trump as a strongman restoring American pride, while opponents fear his actions erode democratic norms. The gutted TVTP program, once a bulwark against targeted violence, symbolises a broader retreat from preventive governance, leaving the U.S. ill-equipped to address the root causes of its divisions. As The Guardian noted, the shootings may galvanize both sides, with Democrats pushing for gun control and Republicans doubling down on “law and order” rhetoric.

Sources: Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, DHS 2024 Report, posts on X

Caption: A demonstrator for “No Kings Day” holds a sign that depicts US President Donald Trump as a baby playing with military toys, as they join the over 10,000 other participants the Boston Pride for the People parade in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 14 June 2025. [EPA/CJ GUNTHER]