Trump military parade live updates: Trump and Vance speak at military parade; 'No Kings' protests unfold nationwide

Unlawful assembly has been declared in downtown Los Angeles as law enforcement clashes with protesters. 

A curfew has been set to 8 p.m.

As a Los Angeles crowd of over 20,000 had begun to move away from the “No Kings” protest against Trump’s immigration policies, police began clearing streets near federal buildings, deploying dispersal orders and using less-lethal munitions on some overpasses.

In his remarks after the parade, Trump thanked the troops in attendance, telling the crowd, "The Army keeps us free, makes us strong."

Trump also attempted to project America’s strength as a warning to global adversaries. “Time and again, America’s enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you,” he said.

“Your defeat will be certain. Your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete.”

“Our soldiers never give up, never surrender and never ever quit," he added. "They fight, fight, fight and win, win, win."

Later in his speech, he again offered thanks to troops and veterans, telling the crowd that thanks "to their extraordinary service and devotion, 250 years later, America stands tall, America stands proud and America stands free."

Several protesters were injured in downtown Los Angeles and were seen bleeding and clearing out their eyes amid clashes with law enforcement.

Sergio Espejo, a Los Angeles resident, said he was holding an American flag when he was hurt by what he described as a “bomb.”

Espejo said he was exercising his freedom of speech when “they used force against me.” 

Another man was carried out on a medic blanket, unable to walk and crying in pain. Medics said his leg was broken because a munition was directed at him. 

While medics were treating the man, law enforcement shot tear gas just a few feet away. 

With each U.S. military era given its own special focus in the America 250 parade, Vietnam veterans got a tribute many were never offered during their own homecomings.

Vance spoke briefly after the parade, highlighting the Army's birthday and wishing Trump a happy birthday, too.

“To our soldiers, we’re so proud of you, and let me tell you that the way we honor you and respect you is, No. 1, we never ask you to go to war unless we absolutely have to," he Vance told the crowd.

Vance also spoke about his wife, Usha, telling the crowd, "To my lovely wife, I love you, honey, and happy anniversary."

Police in Nashville, Tennessee, arrested a counterprotester who was accused of brandishing a handgun at the “No Kings” protest. 

Elijah Millar, 19, of Murfreesboro, was charged with disorderly conduct. His bond has been set at $1,500. 

Police were flagged down after Millar got into heated arguments with protesters, spitting at them and pulling out the gun, which he kept pointed to the ground, Metropolitan Nashville police said in a news release. His behavior placed “witnesses and others in the crowd in fear,” the release said. 

Law enforcement said Millar's was the sole protest-related arrest.

Trump administered the Army Oath of Enlistment to a group of new soldiers alongside a group of troops re-enlisting in the Army.

Amid chants of “peaceful protest,” law enforcement officers and members of the National Guard have taken action against protesters outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles.

Dozens of armored vehicles and police cars surrounded the area as law enforcement unloaded tear gas on crowds, in addition to large numbers of flash-bang devices. Officers on horseback have also charged at protesters. 

While the protesters were mostly spread out throughout the day, law enforcement kettled them into a few small blocks. 

People around the country turned out today for protests against Trump, which were timed with his military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with his 79th birthday.

See more photos here.

Soldiers in historic uniforms and some of the most iconic military vehicles of World War II, from Sherman tanks to B-25 bombers, were on display in the America 250 parade.

Cindy Trimble drove five hours from Cold Spring, New York, just across the Hudson River from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, to see the parade.

Trimble, who wore an Army hat and jersey — along with dog tags that once belonged to her father and brother — said she came even though others discouraged her based on fears of violence stemming from domestic protests and anger over war in the Middle East.

“If you allow other people to keep you home hiding behind your door, then they’ve won,” Trimble said. “And I refuse to let anybody stop us from celebrating our freedom, the flag, of course, the military and the president.”

Dana White, the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, was featured on the White House livestream, sitting front row at the military parade. 

The UFC is a sponsor of the event, and White has been a longtime supporter and friend of Trump's. During the Republican National Convention last year, White introduced Trump onstage, calling him a “fighter.”

On a day of nationwide "No Kings" demonstrations, Pope Leo steered clear of politics in his first address aimed specifically at his fellow Americans.

Instead, he delivered a message of hope to young Catholics via the jumbotron in the stadium that the Chicago White Sox call home.

The pope, a Chicago native, said during a sold-out Mass at Rate Field that they, "too, can find true meaning in our lives."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., posted a photo of himself on X attending the New York City "No Kings" demonstration today.

"I was so proud to be in New York City today supporting Americans making their voice heard at No Kings protests and pushing back on Donald Trump’s authoritarian push to rig the economy for his billionaire buddies," he wrote.

Some of the flyovers planned for the military parade have been canceled because of weather, a Secret Service official said.

Arrivals along with departures out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia had already been shut down in anticipation of the flyovers.

As the first group in the parade passed by the president, he saluted.

Trump's viewing stage is set up between 15th Street and 17th Street, meaning that viewers standing alongside earlier parts of the parade route saw the opening group before he did.

Reagan National Airport in northern Virginia has shut down all departures and arrivals for several Washington hours amid the military parade. 

The parade, which is scheduled to last for over an hour, is expected to feature flyovers and fireworks.

Trump and his wife, Melania, have arrived at the viewing stage along Constitution Avenue.

The couple received applause as they walked out.

Several of the Cabinet members who will join Trump tonight include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Several House members, including Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rich McCormick of Georgia; Richard Hudson of North Carolina; Cory Mills, María Elvira Salazar, Anna Paulina Luna and Kat Cammack of Florida; and Dan Crenshaw of Texas, will also join Trump.

Sam Swartz, 23 of Jacksonville, Florida, is looking forward to honoring both Trump and the military at the parade.

He and his friends came with a sign that reads, “Happy Birthday U.S. Army and Trump.”

“It’s a big day,” he said. “It seems kind of crazy that both the Army’s national birthday and Trump’s birthday is on the same day. It just seems like a perfect opportunity to come and visit.”

Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, addressed a large crowd downtown Los Angeles this afternoon. 

Standing on the bed of a truck surrounded by First Nation activists, Morello encouraged protesters to continue making their voices heard and said history is made by those who are willing to stand up for their beliefs. Trump, he said, made a huge miscalculation by picking on LA. 

“When the billionaires and when the oligarchs and when the racists decided that they were going to take over this country and they were going to start in Los Angeles, they picked the wrong motherf------ city,” he said. “Nobody is coming to save us. We are the ones that are going to save us.”

A motorist struck at least four "No Kings" protesters in San Francisco and then fled the scene, three law enforcements sources told NBC News.

The still-unidentified driver was detained and police were investigating the incident "as a possible intentional act," the sources said.

Meanwhile, the four people who had been hit by the vehicle a little after noon local time suffered what the sources described as non-life threatening injuries.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that thousands of protesters, carrying anti-Trump signs and waving American flags, were marching in San Francisco and Oakland.

Actors Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon were among the roughly 25,000 protesters marching down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan today.

Ruffalo told NBC News that he was marching "because democracy is in real trouble."

"We're not going away. We're not going to be quiet," he said. "We love each other, and we realize that we love this country so much that we're leaving our homes today in the rain to express our friendship and love for the people here who made this place."

The line to enter the parade grounds is currently stretching several blocks and growing.

Sean Mozie, a 30-year-old independent from Arizona, said he’s withstanding the wait in hot, humid weather to “see the cool tanks,” viewing the parade as an effort solely to honor the military, not Trump.

“I generally stand a little bit in the middle ground, and I’m not a Trump supporter in any way,” he said. “Generations of my family were in the army, so that alone is valuable to me, but obviously none of the political stuff.”

In Philadelphia, crowds at the rally reached 80,000 people at their highest point, police said.

No arrests have been made at this time, the authorities said.

A long line of "No Kings" protesters that police say numbered 25,000 marched down Fifth Avenue through rainy Manhattan hours into the demonstration.

Holding umbrellas and protest signs, the group began dispersing once it arrived at Madison Square Park. Officials reported no disturbances.

Police in Dekalb County, Georgia, used tear gas on protesters Saturday afternoon. 

Multiple reports from local outlets, in addition to a livestream from Telemundo Atlanta, show that law enforcement officers in tactical gear unleashed tear gas onto people who were rallying along Chamblee Tucker Road in the city of Doraville. The protestors could be heard chanting, “No justice, no peace, no ICE or police.” 

Law enforcement referred NBC News to a DeKalb County press release in which authorities confirmed that “gas munitions” were used on protesters. The release said that protesters attempted to march towards an interstate ramp. Protesters did not heed officers’ “lawful commands” for them to return to the sidewalk, prompting additional law enforcement support to be called. 

“To prevent further escalation and ensure public safety, gas munitions were deployed, and several arrests were made,” the news release said. 

Authorities said in the release that a total of eight arrests were made at the protest.

Crowd sizes in Los Angeles have exceeded 20,000 people and have been “mostly peaceful,” city officials said in a post on X.

The Los Angeles Police Department also said in a statement today that it was “deeply disturbed” by the shooting in Minnesota, reassuring LA residents that it was working with public officials to monitor any threats in the city.

“At this time, there is no intelligence suggesting similar threats to our area of responsibility. We remain vigilant in our efforts to protect public safety,” the LAPD said.

The flagship “No Kings” protest in Philadelphia ended with a celebration that millions of Americans were banding together across the country.

“Today, we are doing the most quintessentially American thing you can think of. We are showing up peacefully, together, proudly finally to say freedom means something. Justice demands action and that we are not done fighting for the country we know is possible,” said Ezra Levin, a co-executive director of the group Indivisible, which helped organize the protests.

Thousands of demonstrators had joined Philadelphia’s protest, where the energy was festive and peaceful, starting this morning in Love Park before marching to Philadelphia’s Museum of Art.

More than 20,000 protesters are peacefully gathered in downtown San Diego, the San Diego Police Department said in a post on X.

According to the statement, motorcycle officers are managing street closures as the group moves to protect the protesters and reduce impact on traffic. No arrests have been reported, police said.

"Thank you, San Diego, for keeping it peaceful," authorities wrote.

The eldest son of late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the “No Kings” rally in Philadelphia, telling the crowd of protesters that “we the people still believe in democracy.” 

Martin Luther King III, who’s also an activist, slammed Trump’s leadership. 

“We still believe in a nation without kings, without tyrants, without rulers who place themselves above the law,” King III said. “We are here to say this land belongs to the people, not to the monarchs, not to the autocrats, not to strong men, but to the people. You.”

“Refuse Fascism” protesters arrive at Lafayette Park, next to the White House.

Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of people showed up to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon to protest against a number of the Trump administration’s policies. 

Holding umbrellas and protest signs, people railed against issues from cuts to Medicare and Social Security, to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Folk singers performed at the rally and several people spoke in front of the crowd, including Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso. 

Carol Sanjour, a Brooklyn-based psychologist who helped organize the protest, said that protesters were primarily united against fascism. 

“We are not fascists and we won’t stand for this, and this is a way to fight back,” Sanjour said. 

The turnout, Sanjour said, made her proud to be a New Yorker. 

“I grew up in Brooklyn, and that’ll be my home from cradle to grave. And really, what makes this special to me is the diversity,” she said “When I saw these people show up, that’s what America is, to me, this kind of community.” 

A few hours before the "No Kings" protest is set to start in Austin, Texas, a group of about two dozen people stood beneath shade trees on the state Capitol grounds to urge Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session to terminate property taxes. There was no law enforcement attending their protest.

Aaron Sorrells, the head of "We’re Done" — the group that is protesting — said the anti-property taxes protest, planned before clashes between officers and demonstrators broke out in Los Angeles, was supposed to be larger. But, he said, many people decided not to come because of the expected crowds much later in the day for the "No Kings" protest.

One of the protesters, Dustin Orosz, 36, of San Antonio, said that given what has happened in other protests, “it may not be a bad precaution” for Abbott to have deployed the Texas National Guard for the later protest.

“No one wants to see people getting abused," Orosz said. "People should be allowed to protest ... but they have to do it peacefully.”

Threaded within a disdain for Trump and his immigration policies, some New Yorkers are out on the streets also protesting former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo is running to be mayor of the city after resigning from the governorship in 2021, shortly after facing several allegations of sexual harassment.

Some protesters at Manhattan’s “No Kings” march held signs that read, “Don’t rank Cuomo,” referring to the rank choice voting system for its primary election this month, and “No Cuomo, no king, no ICE.”

“We don’t want him back. He’s a scumbag. He’s disgraced,” Kayla Kelly, 33, said. “Why not give Zohran Mamdani a chance to actually do something for the people who live here? Andrew Cuomo will just come back and say whatever he needs to, to get back in.”

Newark, New Jersey's "No Kings" protest organizers said, despite the rain, more people came out than they anticipated, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J.

“We need to stand together as a people to realize that this is a democracy and that it’s not for kings. It’s not for one party, it’s about everyone coming together to make America better, but with grace, love and mercy, not this craziness that’s happening in this administration,” protester Christina Orama said.

Lawrence Hamm, the chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress, helped bring several locations together for the event that began in front of the Essex County Historic Courthouse. “We came together today to voice our stern opposition to the policies, the racist and fascist, reactionary policies of the Trump administration, [which] is trying to take this country towards a dictatorship,” Hamm said.

Hamm said that even though the protest was smaller compared to protests in other big cities around the country, the timing was noteworthy.

Thousands of protesters were gathered in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art after marching from Love Park, listening to speakers including politicians, union leaders and the family members of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“We’ve got no kings here. We’ve got no queens here. We’ve got no emperors,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told the crowd. Raskin then addressed Trump, saying, “You are not our king and we are not your subjects.”

“We will never be your subjects,” he said, as the crowd cheered.

Raskin and other speakers also took time to address the shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and condemn political violence.

“These are our brothers and sisters in the struggle for a more just America, shot down in cold blood in broad daylight,” he said. “We pray for them and all of the people of Minnesota.”

A sea of protesters are making their way slowly down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan toward Madison Square Park. So far, the march has remained peaceful aside from a few verbal spats with drivers of cars halted in the march’s perimeter.

City officials also came prepared, deploying thousands of officers from the New York City Police Department to maintain control of the crowd.

Thousands of protesters gathered on the steps of the iconic New York Public Library, braving the rain to demonstrate against today’s military parade in Washington.

Aside from umbrellas, protesters are waving American flags and signs that say “No Kings.”

Before they started marching, protesters broke out in chant, shouting “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Donald Trump has got to go!”

Nearly 2 in 3 U.S. adults — 64% — oppose the use of government funds for this weekend’s military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday, according to new data from the NBC News Decision Desk Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey.

Majorities of Democrats (88%) and independents (72%) oppose the use of government funds to put on the parade, while 65% of Republicans support it.

Spending public funds on the parade is more popular among supporters of the MAGA movement (75% support), compared to Republicans who identify more as supporters of the party itself (56% support).

Read the full story here.

The Los Angeles Police Department made 19 arrests yesterday responding to protests and criminal activity in the downtown area, authorities said in news release. One arrest was for assault with a deadly weapon and the other 18 for curfew violation.

Officials said 523 arrests have been made since June 7 related to protest activity and none officers have been injured.

Police keep “No Kings” protesters from crossing a bridge today to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in West Palm Beach, Fla.

American flags large and small filled the crowd of protesters at the “No Kings” march in Philadelphia, where demonstrators said they were fighting to protect their country and democracy.

“We’re taking our flag back. We feel like Republicans have basically tried to take over the American flag and kind of use it as a weapon against other people in the country,” said Stacie Phillips, 59, as she and her husband marched and held a large American flag between them.

“We wanted to come out because we are consistently seeing Donald Trump and his administration illegally try to use their power in very corrupt and criminal ways,” she said. “We are tired of seeing that, and the best thing we can do is stand up for what we believe in.”

Phillips said the massive protest stood in contrast to the large military parade Trump will hold later Saturday.

“I think it very sends a very powerful message, especially today, that we counteract that with something that shows that we are resisting,” she said. At the same time, members of the crowd chanted, “No more fascists, no more Trump!”

Francis Cota, 35, who waved a large American flag above his head as he marched, said he and other protesters were “fighting for democracy” and to protect a country that they love.

Cota said the issues most important to him were “human rights and the environment in a big way” as well as democracy and diplomacy. 

He said that while America has its problems, its democratic values are something, “I think people, especially people my age, often take a lot of those things for granted.”

“Like, I feel more like we’re the ones here, like, trying to, like, preserve our institutions,” he said.

Sam Goldman, an organizer for the coalition "Refuse Fascism," told NBC they organized in D.C. because it was important that “the capital not be ceded to this fascist regime.” She wore a shirt reading “Trump must go now” — a slogan that organizers frequently led the crowd in chanting.

“Any time that a tyrant has been deposed, it’s been because the people have planted themselves in the streets and raised that demand,” she said.

Organizers told NBC News they want demonstrations to remain nonviolent.

Goldman said that “when you create a situation where you stop business as usual through your nonviolent but determined resistance, you change what’s possible, and you create the political conditions in which the removal could take place.”

Miami’s “No Kings” protest was met by a small group of counterprotesters, according to NBC6 in South Florida. 

One of them was 82-year-old Bob Kunst, who was carrying a sign that said: “Happy birthday President Trump.”

“Happy Birthday Mr. President. I am a registered Democrat but I am here to support my president. He won,” Kunst said.

Kunst also sported a red hat that read, “Trump Was Right About Everything” and a T-shirt bearing the Israeli flag that said, “Never again is now.”

The suspect in the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers allegedly had “No Kings” posters in his car, the Minnesota State Patrol said in their briefing today.

Sunsara Taylor, a spokesperson for "Refuse Fascism," said she is “absolutely thrilled” that people are declaring “No Kings” in cities across the country.

“But to those who said don’t come to D.C., respectfully, you are wrong. This is where the eyes of the world will be. This is where Donald Trump has issued his fascist threats, and we can’t back down because of that.”

Justin Tobey, 30, said he showed up to the protest because he feels “we’re seeing this really frightening crackdown on our rights.”

Tobey lives in D.C. but is originally from the L.A. area. He referenced Sen. Padilla being handcuffed and “hardworking immigrants being snatched off the streets, it’s really scary.”

He said he wanted to attend the protest in D.C. because it is where he lives and “this is where the, in my view, authoritarians are.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz asked people to avoid protests in his state today until the suspect who shot and killed Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and injured Sen. John Hoffman is in custody.

"Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended," Walz wrote.

Walz said the attack "appears to be a politically motivated assassination" at a press conference this morning.  

Demonstrators of all ages filled Philadelphia’s Love Park today for the “No Kings” march, holding up a sea of signs as a light drizzle came down.

Organizers expect Philadelphia’s march to be one of the largest in a day of protests across the country.

The crowd cheered and chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, this wannabe king has got to go!” And “Love not hate makes America great!”

Thomas Nephew, 67, came from the D.C. area with his wife for the protest, and said he was moved to stand up against Trump's policies.

The “No Kings” protest in northeast Minneapolis has been canceled following the shooting of two state lawmakers, according to the organizers’ website. 

“The No Kings event in Northeast Minneapolis has been canceled due to a shelter-in-place order following a politically motivated shooting of two elected officials," a banner on the website reads. "We are monitoring the situation closely and urge everyone in the area to follow all local safety guidance."

Separately, the Minnesota State Patrol on social media asked the public to refrain from attending the planned demonstrations across the state "out of an abundance of caution."

Some demonstrators are taking to the streets in costumes and holding signs to help deliver their messages of protest.

As reported by NBC Washington, protesters in Washington, D.C., are wearing taco costumes, an apparent reference to the acronym “TACO” — meaning Trump Always Chickens Out — first used by a Financial Times columnist describing Trump’s changing stances on tariffs.

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the United States, a crowd carrying signs reading “No Kings” has gathered at Love Park, NBC10 Philadelphia reports.

Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta shared her advice with demonstrators ahead of the nationwide “No Kings” protests, telling them to remain nonviolent.

In an interview with NBC News yesterday, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers said, “We know that this is a way that we will win eventually, and if there is violence … that really opens the door for provocateurs to come in, people that are on the other side that will come in and do some type of violent acts just to kind of justify the type of brutal police force that we have seen,” she added.

Huerta, who successfully organized farm workers to unionize during the Civil Rights movement, added that nonviolence — along with boycotts — was how that movement became successful.

The United States Capitol Police said more than 50 people were arrested yesterday at a mostly peaceful demonstration in front of the Supreme Court building.

According to police, officers began establishing a perimeter "as a precaution" after about 60 people involved in the demonstration left the Supreme Court.

"A few people pushed the bike rack down and illegally crossed the police line while running towards the Rotunda Steps. Our officers immediately blocked the group and began making arrests," the spokesperson said, adding that about 75 people participated in the demonstration.

The Supreme Court building is across the street from the steps that lead into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Capitol Police said the roughly 60 demonstrators arrested will be charged with unlawful demonstration and crossing a police line, with some facing additional charges of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Numerous military veterans participated in the demonstration.

President Trump is getting the parade he wanted showcasing America’s military power — but he’ll also be getting mass protests exposing the nation’s partisan divisions.

The tanks and artillery launchers rolling through Washington today will honor the Army’s 250th anniversary, which falls on the day Trump turns 79.

About 7,000 soldiers will march. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line up along Constitution Avenue on the co-birthdays and cheer. Trump is set to watch the spectacle from a viewing stand south of the White House.

But in Washington and in all 50 states, organizers will be staging protests that could dwarf the parade in size. A coalition of pro-democracy, labor and liberal activists is arranging a full day of counterprogramming to make the case that Trump is hijacking the Army celebration to venerate himself.

Read the full story here.

The military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Army is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET and is expected to last for more than an hour. The parade route will take place along the National Mall down Constitution Avenue NW, between 15th and 23rd streets.

The event will also include a festival that kicks off at 11 a.m. ET, and the Army says that the parade will conclude with fireworks and a concert. Trump is expected to deliver remarks later in the day too.