Trump military parade live: ‘No Kings’ protesting vets arrested after swarming Capitol grounds

By Victoria Churchill, U.S. Political Reporter In Washington, D.C.

A group of U.S. veterans were arrested outside of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Friday evening.

They gathered to protest the military parade set to take place on the National Mall on Saturday evening.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

There will be tanks, parachute jumps, flyovers and, of course, a cameo from MAGA crooner Lee Greenwood.

But the star of Saturday’s military parade marking the Army’s 250th anniversary – and President Donald Trump’s birthday – could be a two-year-old Blue Heeler named Private Doc Holliday.

This dog named Doc – named after Wyatt Earp’s buddy made famous by the 1881 O.K. Corral shootout portrayed in the movie Tombstone – is part of the Texas-based 1st Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

The parade, which is expected to kick off at 6:30 p.m., will showcase the evolution of the Army, using period uniforms and vintage equipment, including a World War Two-era B-25 bomber.

Bradley Fighting Vehicles, M1A2/Abrams tanks – which weigh approximately 68 tons – and Strykers are among those being showcased in the parade.

Last week the Army Corps of Engineers started putting down metal plating on the street in the areas where the large vehicles would need to turn in order to preserve the District’s streets.

One special moment that’s expected is when the 1st Cavalry Division walks in the parade.

At its conclusion, the Army’s Golden Knight parachutists will jump down to the Ellipse and hand to Trump the folded American flag.

After that, MAGA crooner Lee Greenwood and others will perform onstage at the Ellipse – and to end the night, there will be a fireworks show over the National Mall.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

It was supposed to be a celebration – but it’s also teasing America’s military might.

President Donald Trump’s massive parade marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army is expected to go ahead as planned Saturday evening, amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran – and looming fears of an escalation into World War III.

What could stop it is the weather, as lightning in the area would push the Pentagon to delay the planned march down Constitution Avenue, which includes flyovers and parachute jumps.

Saturday morning Trump insisted it was happening, despite thunderstorm concerns.

‘OUR GREAT MILITARY PARADE IS ON, RAIN OR SHINE. REMEMBER, A RAINY DAY PERADE BRINGS GOOD LUCK. I’LL SEE YOU ALL IN D.C.’ he wrote on Truth Social. He fixed the spelling of ‘perade’ in a second post.

It will be the first time the streets of the capital have been swamped with soldiers in since a celebration of the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

The celebration falls on Trump’s 79th birthday, but he has denied accusations the event is to mark his own milestone.

He will still be front-and-center.

By Victoria Churchill, U.S. Political Reporter In Washington, D.C.

At a press conference on Saturday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol urged people in the state not to attend planned anti-Trump protests until the suspect or suspects in the shooting are apprehended, fearing the demonstrations could be targeted.

Authorities shared an image on social media showing flyers for the ‘NO KINGS’ rallies planned to coincide with Donald Trump’s birthday parade, which they said they found in a vehicle belleved to be linked to the shootings.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

President Donald Trump revealed Saturday afternoon that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him to wish him a ‘happy birthday’ as the president turns 79.

‘President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,’ the president posted to Truth Social.

By Victoria Churchill, U.S. Political Reporter In Washington, D.C.

Daily Mail is live on the National Mall for the military parade to commemorate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.

Renowned music artist Lee Greenwood was seen warming up his vocals on stage Saturday afternoon.

Greenwood’s ‘God Bless The USA’ was a staple of President Trump’s political events on the campaign trail last year.