Nationwide Veteran Protests Challenge $45M D.C. Military Parade Plans

President Donald Trump's administration organized a large military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th birthday, coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, with an estimated cost of $45 million. The parade has drawn both support and protest: Oklahoma Senators Lankford and Mullin praised the event as a fitting tribute to soldiers' sacrifices, while protesters, including veterans, criticized it as a wasteful display of militarism and a misallocation of funds that could better support veterans' services. Demonstrators nationwide, including in Nebraska and Colorado, have voiced concerns over cuts to veterans’ healthcare, Medicaid, and other social programs, linking these issues to dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's priorities. Anti-Trump rallies have also been organized to oppose the parade and broader policies, with activists labeling the day as a nationwide act of defiance and highlighting concerns about the militarization of domestic affairs. Colorado officials have taken legal action against the federal response to protests, emphasizing tensions over the administration's handling of civil unrest and its use of military forces. The protests reflect a broader debate over the role and symbolism of military displays amid ongoing domestic policy disputes.