The event, which cost $45 million according to the Pentagon, included tanks, fighter jets and an Armed Forces presentation on Pennsylvania Avenue. Trump described it as “a show of strength and national unity.”
Democratic leaders such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom called the parade “an unnecessary provocation” and “a distraction from the country's real problems.”
However, thousands of protesters took to the streets under the slogan “No Kings”, denouncing what they consider a “militarization of civilian power”. In Salt Lake City, a protester was shot during a confrontation with police, which has intensified the debate on the use of force in protests.
As this story continues to develop, civil rights groups vow to take the fight to federal courts and advocate for broader protections of LGBTQ+ youth.
Legal experts say the ruling may embolden conservative lawmakers to introduce more restrictive legislation targeting transgender rights. Meanwhile, civil rights organizations are preparing to challenge similar laws in federal courts, hoping to reverse what they see as a dangerous rollback of protections for trans youth.