With a $25–45 million military parade scheduled for Saturday in Washington, D.C., President Trump is facing a wave of backlash — not just from lawmakers, but from the streets. The event, originally pitched as a patriotic celebration, is now fueling what organizers call “No Kings Day,” a massive nationwide protest movement expected to span over 1,500 cities.
Critics of the parade call it a dangerous spectacle that glorifies authoritarianism and wastes public funds. Protesters are planning marches, rallies, and counter-events from coast to coast — turning June 14, which also marks Trump’s birthday, into a day of national dissent.
Civil rights groups, veterans, artists, and students have joined forces, framing the protest as a stand for democracy and a rejection of what they see as militarized showboating. Organizers say the goal is to remind America that no leader is above the people — and certainly not above the Constitution.
The parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, in Washington, D.C., and will begin at 10 a.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to the official event notice. With tanks, flyovers, and active-duty units participating, federal officials have ramped up security preparations around the National Mall. With tensions high and public sentiment sharply divided, the weekend could mark a defining moment in the country’s ongoing clash over power, protest, and presidential spectacle.
The Author
Ellis Grant
Staff Writer, Readovia
