Commenting on the potential that rioters will disrupt the massive military parade that he is putting on in Washington, D.C. to commemorate and celebrate the United States Army’s 250th birthday, President Donald Trump vowed that any rioters who try to disrupt the parade will face harsh consequences, including “very heavy force.”
As background, the 250th birthday commemoration event will be held on Saturday, June 14, and feature a great many types of military equipment including aircraft flyovers, reenactors, and mechanized military equipment. Altogether, the spectacle is meant to honor service members and drum up popular support for the military.
Explaining what the event is meant to do, the website for America250, a non-profit helping put the spectacle together, said, “The event is designed not only to showcase the Army’s modern capabilities but also to inspire a new generation to embrace the spirit of service, resilience, and leadership that defines the United States.”
Worries abound that, given the general attitude and ongoing anti-ICE riots across much of America, particularly Los Angeles, there will be protests and riots that target the massive military spectacle in notoriously far-left DC. The president explained that he would have no patience for such disruptions.
Beginning his comments on that matter, the president told reporters on Tuesday, June 10, “If there’s any protest once they come out, they will be met with very big force.” Continuing, he explained, “I haven’t even heard about a protest. But people that hate our country … they will be met with very heavy force.”
Further, the president explained to the reporters on Tuesday that the event will feature all sorts of equipment and be a good day for America in that it celebrates the country rather than derides it. He said, “It’s going to be an amazing day. We have planes. We have all sorts of things. And I think it’s going to be great. We’re going to celebrate our country for a change.”
Watch President Trump here:
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Further, in another series of comments on the matter, the president said that the event will be a “big” celebration and that protesters will face utter intolerance from his administration, saying, “We’re going to be celebrating big on Saturday — and if there’s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force.” Watch him here:
.@POTUS on this weekend’s Army 250 Celebration in D.C.: “We’re going to be celebrating big on Saturday — and if there’s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force.” pic.twitter.com/b1rCFuJI9x
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2025
President Trump, meanwhile, has been adamant about sending troops to Los Angeles to put down the riots that are causing chaos. Defending his decision to flood the city with Marines and National Guard troopers, for example, the president posted, “If our troops didn’t go into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now, just like so much of their housing burned to the ground. The great people of Los Angeles are very lucky that I made the decision to go in and help!!!”
In another post, he said, “The INCOMPETENT Governor of California was unable to provide protection in a timely manner when our Ice Officers, GREAT Patriots they are, were attacked by an out of control mob of agitators, troublemakers, and/or insurrectionists. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Featured image credit: base image screengrab from the embedded video