Topline
President Donald Trump warned would-be protesters at the Army’s 250th anniversary parade Saturday—which coincides with his 79th birthday—that they would be met with “very big force,” comments that come as he has called the National Guard and Marines to protests in Los Angeles.
President Donald Trump watches a military demonstration at Fort Bragg, a US Army military … More
Key Facts
Trump said he hasn’t heard of any demonstrations planned for the celebration in Washington, D.C., but “for those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force,” he told reporters Tuesday from the Oval Office, accusing the protesters of being people who “hate our country.”
Trump made the comments as a warning to progressive groups planning more than 1,500 “No Kings Day” protests nationwide on Saturday against the Trump administration as the military parade is underway in Washington.
The threat comes as Trump has called the National Guard and Marines to protests in Los Angeles that erupted over his immigration enforcement raids, and as protests have spread to other cities around the country.
Crucial Quote
“We have tanks, we have planes, we have all sorts of things, and I think it is going to be great,” Trump said. “We are going to celebrate our country for a change.”
Tangent
The progressive group Indivisible, which is organizing the “No Kings” protests, called the military parade a “made-for-TV display of dominance for [Trump’s] birthday” in a press release announcing the events, according to ABC News. Walmart heiress and billionaire Christy Walton also took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times Sunday promoting “No Kings” and calling for people to “mobilize” on Saturday.
Key Background
Federal officials have been spotted setting up for the military celebration this week in Washington, D.C., erecting fencing, security checkpoints and bringing in military equipment from across the country. “We’re preparing for an enormous turnout,” the Secret Service’s Matt McCool told the Associated Press, predicting that 1 million people could possibly attend. The parade will feature at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and thousands of civilians, likely costing tens of millions of dollars, the AP reported in May, citing planning documents. The protests come as Trump has been feuding with Democrat leaders in California over his response to protests sparked increasingly aggressive anti-immigration enforcement actions from his administration, including several surprise workplace raids across the country and increased arrest quotas. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday requested a federal judge block Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, while Trump claimed the city “would be burning to the ground right now” without federal troops.
Further Reading
Trump Administration Plans Massive Military Parade On President’s 79th Birthday (Forbes)
Los Angeles Protests Live Updates: Newsom Asks Judge To Block Trump’s Troop Deployment—Today (Forbes)
Billionaire Walmart Heiress Promotes Nationwide Anti-Trump Protests (Forbes)
