“The Army keeps us free, you make us strong, and tonight, you have made all Americans very proud,” Trump said during a speech at the parade. “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too.”
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The demonstrations accused Trump of exhibiting authoritarian behavior, including authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make sweeps targeting illegal immigrants nationwide and sending federal troops into California to quell anti-ICE protests during the recent Los Angeles riot. “No Kings” organizers said the military parade Saturday represented Trump’s wish to have “tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance” for his birthday.
While many Democrats were on board with the protests and criticized Trump’s military parade, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), known for his maverick stances, rebuked some of his colleagues, and Republicans such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) expressed concern about the function’s steep costs. Such an event celebrating the Army is meant to honor “the very best of us,” Fetterman said.
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Some of the “No Kings” demonstrations — such as in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Seattle — became unruly, while police in Portland, Oregon, declared a riot at an ICE facility and arrested multiple people after protests descended into violence.
A “mob” there injured four law enforcement officers as they launched fireworks, smoke grenades, and threw rocks at authorities, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital.
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Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said during a press conference that “it appears” the three people arrested, one of whom is in the hospital after sustaining “serious injuries” from gunshot wounds, “were involved at some level in the protest or at least part of the group that was walking” in the demonstration.
* Original Article:
Trump military parade turns out thousands despite weather and nationwide protests: ‘It’s about time’
