3 takeaways from the military parade and No Kings protests on Trump's birthday

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The parade stirred up controversy for what opponents view as a politicization of the nation's armed forces and a break from U.S. democratic norms, and sparked an organized No Kings protest movement across the country on Saturday.

1. Stormy clouds didn't rain on the parade

Despite threats of lightning and storms rolling into D.C., the parade went ahead as advertised.

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2. Trump got the thing he has wanted for years

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After his speech, Trump was presented with a traditionally folded American flag — a gift usually reserved for the family members of fallen soldiers.

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3. Protests spring up across the country

No Kings protests rippled peacefully across dozens of cities in the U.S.

Organizers estimated that more than 5 million people participated in more 2,000 planned protests, according to spokesperson Eunic Ortiz. While protests were peaceful, police in Culpeper, Va., arrested a man who "intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd," at the end of a protest. One person was hit, but no one was hurt, police said.

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https://www.npr.org/2025/06/15/nx-s1-5433765/3-takeaways-from-the-military-parade-and-no-kings-protests-on-trumps-birthday