Updated Jun 14, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Trump hosts military parade amid nationwide "No Kings" protests, in photos

Rebecca Falconer,
Brittany Gibson

President Donald Trump (top, C), flanked by US First Lady Melania Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, watches the Army 250th Anniversary Parade from the Ellipse in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. — President Trump (top, center), flanked by first lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, watching the Army's 250th Anniversary Parade from the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. on June 14. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump hosted Saturday the country's largest military parade in decades in Washington D.C., marking 250 years of the U.S. Army — a date that coincided with his 79th birthday.

The big picture: The parade was being held as millions took part in anti-Trump demonstrations across the U.S., per "No Kings" protest organizers.

Fireworks explode over the White House during the U.S. Army's 250th birthday celebration on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th birthday with the military parade including roughly 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft. — The parade involved a series of flyovers, almost 7,000 soldiers and finished with a fireworks display. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand together as he is given an American flag by a member of the U.S. Army parachute team, also known as the Golden Knights, at the end of the U.S Army parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. — A member of the U.S. Army parachute team, also known as the Golden Knights, presents the president with a U.S. flag at the end of the Army parade. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Artillery guns are fired as President Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at a reviewing stand for a military parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. — "Every other country celebrates their victories," Trump said after the parade ended. "It's about time America did, too. That's what we're doing tonight." Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Trump salutes as members of the U.S Army march past during the 250th birthday parade of the U.S. Army on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. — The parade was organized chronologically to show the Korean and Vietnam wars, the "Global War on Terror" and the modern period. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Armored vehicles drive during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC on June 14. — As crowds gathered in D.C., dozens of members of Congress and several Cabinet secretaries accompanied the first and second families on the U.S. Army stage on Constitution Ave. Photo: Alex Wroblewsku/AFP via Getty Images

The crowd of supporters sang Happy Birthday to the President after he walked on stage. Though today is a celebration of the Army's 250th birthday, it is also Trump's 79th. — The crowd of supporters sang "Happy Birthday" to the president, pictured with first lady Melania Trump (right) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (left), after he walked onstage. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

A member of the US Army Parachute Team, also known as the Golden Knights, parachutes down close to the White House on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. — The military parade along D.C.'s Constitution Avenue includes roughly 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles and over 50 aircraft. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

A robotic quadruped, also known as a robot dog, during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. — A robotic quadruped, also known as a robot dog, during the parade. The U.S. and China are racing to dominate robotics and other smart machinery, per Axios' Colin Demarest. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Attendees watch as a tank passes during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 14. — Attendees watch as a tank passes during the U.S. Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 14. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

US Army Soldiers pose for a group photo on the National Mall in Washington DC, on June 13, 2025. — U.S. Army soldiers on the National Mall in D.C. on June 13, during preparations for the Army's 250th anniversary celebration. Photo: Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images

A member of the military climbs a rope during an army fitness competition at the US Army's 250th Anniversary festival on the National Mall on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. — A member of the military climbs a rope during an army fitness competition at the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall on June 14 in D.C. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A view of military parade attendees from the media enclosure in D.C. Photo: Brittany Gibson/Axios

Go deeper: Trump's Strongman Week: Inside his show of military force

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Trump hosts military parade amid nationwide "No Kings" protests, in photos

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