Trump addresses huge military parade as protesters rally across US against his presidency

American citizens have planned thousands of protests all over the United States on June 14 to show their opposition to Donald Trump’s policies and a $45 million parade in his honor on his 79th birthday. The president has turned the celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary into a political act and the U.S. citizens will use their right of freedom of speech to let Trump and his administration know what they think of his policies.

Earlier we brought you comments from a US Army veteran who came out to support the military parade in Washington DC.

We also spoke to a verteran who last week told the BBC he believes the parade is “unwarranted”.

Steven Jewell says parades like this are often put on in communist countries or those run by dictators. “In America, we haven’t done this in a very long time for a very good reason,” he says. “It is a waste of money, an unnecessary show of military force.”

Jewell, who lives in Texas, says such a display could lead to destruction.

“Parades with military equipment, heavy tanks, artillery, those things cause damage. They are so heavy… Having a parade in Washington DC doesn’t meet any of those goals” of discipline, team bonding or training he says he has seen at parades held on military bases.

For Jewell, the parade – taking place on Trump’s 79th birthday – “is a waste of significant amount of money for someone’s ego”.