(WDNews) – President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that any protests during his upcoming military parade in Washington will be “met with very heavy force.”
Speaking during a White House briefing, Trump said he was not aware of any organized demonstrations planned for Saturday’s event, but he suggested that disruptions were possible. “These are people who hate our country,” Trump said, referring to potential protesters.
The parade, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Constitution Avenue, will honor the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and also coincide with the president’s 79th birthday. The celebration will include six blocks of military displays, aerial flyovers, performances by country artists, a fireworks show, and an appearance by the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team.
The White House has described the parade as a tribute to the Army’s historic milestone. However, some critics have questioned the timing and scale of the event, citing its overlap with recent military deployments to address unrest in California.
In a Truth Social video posted June 6, Trump promoted the celebration as “one like you’ve never seen before,” encouraging attendance and saying, “You won’t want to miss it.”
Trump also told reporters he may invoke the Insurrection Act if protests tied to the parade escalate. The law allows the president to deploy the military in cases of extreme domestic unrest, though its use is rare in U.S. history.
