Both Trumps admirers and enemies visit his military parade

American democracy is not yet dead. And Rick Johnson (60) has the protest board in his hands to prove it. ‘Support our soldiers. Fighting Agent Orange ‘, he wrote on it. With a caricature of Donald Trump next to it as a blown king. Johnson is not on one of the approximately two thousand demonstrations against the president on Saturday, but along the route of the military parade that Trump himself had organized in Washington. To get here he had to go to the military security of the event.

Johnson and his wife first visited an anti-Trump protest outside the capital and then came to this. It was uncertain whether they would reach the route of the parade of soldiers, tanks, and horses. « We had braced ourselves, » he says.

Trump had warned that everyone who dared to disturb his parade with a protest message would be confronted with ‘very much violence’. But that turned out not to be the case. « The only thing I had to do is pick up the stick with which I held the board. Because there are – understandable – no sticks in this area. I am pleasantly surprised. Our freedom of expression is still intact here. »

Then a man with a black cap with the logo of the army and in yellow letters ‘retired’ something unintelligible, but clearly unfriendly, starts to call him. « It is the first negative open negative reaction that we have had to deal with, » says Johnson, shrugging.

The former soldier, who does not want to be in the newspaper with his name, explains later: “I am not angry. I have served in the army for thirty years, in two different wars. I know people who are dead to protect this. I respect it. I think it is only inappropriate, selfish and self-rights to do this today.”

Sucked into polarization

For most people it is true. Beforehand, there has been a lot of fuss about the military parade with six thousand soldiers, fifty helicopters, dozens of tanks and combat vehicles and historical equipment. The United States has no tradition of military display in its own streets. And it was precisely in the week that Trump mobilized against demonstrators in Los Angeles, he has them marching through the center of Washington on his own birthday. The actions on both coasts are seen by Trumps opponents as a way to intimidate his own population.

Trump seizes every occasion with the public to make it a kind of campaign moment. It is no coincidence that the parade today: it is not only the birthday of the American army, but also of Trump (79) itself. Earlier this week he gave a speech at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Soldiers, who should be politically neutral, did not only collapse for their president, they also shouted the governor of California, the mayor of Los Angeles, former president Joe Biden and the press from-a clearly biased statement. In retrospect, the people present had been selected for their appearance and political preference.

The army seems to be sucked into the polarization of the United States, just like almost any other institute of social relevance. But the solidarity is an asset on the parade. An extremely diverse company, in age, color and class, is here, among other things, « to see tanks ». « Because we were in DC this week and this is something fun to do. » And « to honor our soldiers. »

Nobody, including those with ‘Make America Great Again’, says he says they are in honor and several glory of the birthday president. « Everything is being politicized, » says Itai Hochhauser (26), a Navigated Israeli with a red Trump cap. « Can we simply express our appreciation for these people in uniform, who never come up with who they vote for? »

No king

Much more political, and with a nationally much higher turnout, are the protests that according to American media took place in two thousand locations under the title ‘No Kings’. Visitors label the military parade as a dictatorial and Trump as an autocrat. They are angry, frustrated and afraid of the way in which Trump breaks down institutions, releases civil servants, deploying soldiers and expands migrants by decree and without trial.

In Arlington, Virginia, just over the bridge of Trumps military festival in the capital, demonstrators form a ribbon along an important traffic artery, so that nothing meaningful can be said about the turnout. It is in any case a less diverse audience than at the Parade. Just like with an earlier protest, white, older people dominate here.

Cars drive along Laura Cohen (61), who is a sign with the text: « The power of the people is stronger than (that of) the people in power. » She feels « sick » about everything Trump does in his second term. Especially about how he and care minister Robert F. Kennedy cancel the science, health care and the vaccine program.

« Some people are talking about a constitutional crisis, but I think we’ve passed that point for a long time. We are now living in an autocratic oligarchy, » says Cohen. « Our judges do what they can do, but it’s too little and too slow. » What is the point of demonstrating? « No idea, but it makes me hopeful to be here with like -minded people. Otherwise I will lie on the couch my way at home by scrolling bad news. »

She also hopes that this protest encourages people who voted for Trump to speak out against him. « I understand that people voted against the status quo in November, but I cannot imagine that his abuse of power is what they wanted. »

Information war

A little further on is Nathan Dalton (27), with his wife Stephanie (28). They have been to all kinds of protests and actions in recent months and years. « I am really worried about our democracy. Historically, when someone tries to grab or retain power, the success always depends on which side the armed forces is. The signs are not good lately, » he says. « But what really scares me is the war war. So many people in this country have no idea what is really going on. That problem probably takes longer than Trump lives. »

Yet he is less pessimistic about the current state of American democracy than many other demonstrators. « You notice that Trump remains sensitive to public opinion. He is a bit back in the cutbacks on the federal government when he noticed that it was unpopular. There are cracks in our democracy. But this is not yet broken. »

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