STORY
In a striking display of civic engagement, “No Kings Day” protests swept across the United States on 14 June 2025, drawing an estimated 4 to 6 million participants in over 2,100 cities, making it one of the largest single‑day protests in U.S. history. In stark contrast, President Trump’s long‑planned military parade, held the same day in Washington, D.C., attracted far fewer attendees than expected. Grassroots anti-authoritarian activists coordinated demonstrations under the banner “No Kings,” protesting what they described as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and the politicisation of the military. Organisers reported over 5 million people across hundreds of cities and towns. Participation varied: 200,000 in NYC, 80,000 in Philadelphia, Boston over 1 million, and 70,000 in Seattle. The protests were largely peaceful, though tense moments occurred, most notably in Los Angeles, where police deployed tear gas and flash-bang grenades during a rally near a federal building.
For many, the protests were a powerful expression of resistance, people marching together across the country to assert democratic values and reject centralised power. Also on 14 June, President Trump staged a military parade from Arlington to the National Mall to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday. The budget, reported between $25 to 45 million, funded tanks, drones, historical aircraft, 6,000 to 7,000 troops, and a large security mobilisation. Yet the parade experience diverged sharply from expectations. Organisers anticipated hundreds of thousands, but bleachers along Constitution Avenue remained largely empty. Media cited muted enthusiasm, poor weather, and logistical hiccups including hurried schedule changes due to rain. Officials claimed 250,000 spectators, but these figures were widely questioned, with independent estimates suggesting far lower attendance.
Critical analysis labelled the display underwhelming, sad, modest, and likened it to political theatre or authoritarian spectacle. Commentators suggested the event elevated Trump’s personal brand rather than truly honouring service members. What unfolded on 14 June was less a unified national moment and more a tale of contrasting mobilisations: a decades‑in‑the‑making protest, rallying millions under the No Kings banner to defend democratic checks and balances; and a military parade lavishly funded yet poorly supported, widely perceived as an extravagant, politicised spectacle.
One described it as a “split screen”: millions marching for democracy shadowed by a muted celebration of military might. Post‑parade, cleanup efforts were swift and parade‑related road closures lifted by Monday morning. However, analysts are already dissecting the costs, fiscal and symbolic, given the tension between official ceremony and popular sentiment. The No Kings protests have signalled a persistent national movement, with organisers highlighting that even 1 to 1.5 % of the U.S. population protesting can influence policy.