Donald Trump enjoys military parade as hundreds of thousands protest against him

President Donald Trump's long-awaited military parade rolled through the streets of downtown Washington on Saturday, but the celebration of the U.S. military's 250th anniversary was marred by a day of violence and discord.

In the hours leading up to the parade, hundreds of thousands of Americans protested against Trump at rallies and marches in major cities across the country, from New York to Los Angeles, on a day marred by the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota and the conflict in the Middle East.

Also on Saturday, Israel bombed Iran for the second time in an attempt to destroy its nuclear program, after the Islamic Republic responded with strikes the night before, fueling fears of an escalating conflict between the two nations.

The protests marked the largest wave of opposition to Trump since he returned to power in January. The Republican has ordered the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, a heavily Democratic city, a deployment that California Governor Gavin Newsom has challenged in court.

The parade, which coincided with Trump's 79th birthday, started ahead of schedule with storms forecast for the Washington area.

Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery rumbled down the parade route along legendary Constitution Avenue, an unusual sight in the United States, where such military displays are rare.

"Every other country is celebrating their victories, it's time for the United States to do so too," Trump told the crowd following the parade.

Thousands of spectators lined the route. Trump watched the parade from a raised platform, behind bulletproof glass.

Some opponents of the president also managed to position themselves along the parade route, holding signs in protest. Other protesters were separated by local police.

The Army moved nearly 7,000 troops to Washington, along with 150 vehicles, including more than 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored personnel carriers, four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles, and artillery pieces such as the M777 and M119.

Protests

Anti-Trump groups had planned nearly 2,000 demonstrations of varying sizes across the country to coincide with the parade. Many took place under the slogan "No Kings ," asserting that no individual is above the law.

A gunman posing as a police officer killed a prominent Democratic lawmaker and her husband in an apparent "politically motivated assassination" on Saturday, and wounded a second lawmaker and his spouse, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and law enforcement officials said.

All planned "No Kings" protests in Minnesota were canceled following the incident.

Trump also condemned the shooting, saying , "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in America."

People heading to Washington for the parade encountered a massive security presence, with 8-foot-high black fences, much of it reinforced with concrete traffic barriers, cordoning off streets and surrounding landmarks, including the Washington Monument.

The celebrations will cost the Army between $25 million and $45 million , officials told Reuters. This figure includes the parade itself, as well as the costs of transporting equipment and housing and feeding the troops.

Critics have called the parade a wasteful, authoritarian display of power, especially given that Trump has said he wants to cut spending across the federal government.

Trump supporter Bryan Henrie flew from Texas to celebrate the Army's anniversary and saw no problem with tanks rolling through the streets of Washington. "I don't see any controversy. I will celebrate security and stability always, before anarchy," said the 61-year-old.

In Los Angeles, a crowd encountered a large contingent of Marines guarding the Roybal Federal Building downtown, the scene of clashes between protesters and officers earlier this week.

About three meters away from the Marines, the crowd shouted in unison: "Shame! Shame!" and "Marines, out of Los Angeles!"

Despite the rain, thousands of people of all ages gathered in and around Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan. Actor Mark Ruffalo was among the protesters, wearing a hat that read "immigrant."

"We're seeing dehumanizing language toward LGBT people, toward people with autism, toward people with other disabilities, racial minorities, and undocumented people," said Cooper Smith, 20. "Someone needs to show that the majority of Americans are against this."

Thousands of people packed Chicago's Daley Plaza and surrounding streets beneath the iconic Picasso statue. Some chanted "Lock him up!" in reference to the president.