Military parade | The American army scrolls through the streets of Washington

(Washington) Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, kicked off the great military parade which he dreamed on Saturday in Washington.

The American president, who celebrated his 79th birthday on Saturday, arrived shortly after 6 p.m. (6 p.m. Eastern time) at the gallery to attend the parade which must bring together nearly 7,000 soldiers and some 150 military vehicles, overflown by dozens of planes and helicopters.

All smiles, he was greeted by songs “USA” USA! », And by 21 cannon shots. The American anthem was then sung before the start of the parade, with fanfare and soldiers in the outfit of different eras.

The American president, seated near the Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth, not far from other members of the government, got up on several occasions to make the military salvation when the troops.

But despite the parade of armored vehicles and tank, the crowd showed a measured enthusiasm, AFP journalists found.

“Political violence”

“I am here because I am a fan of the president and also because I support the army,” said Oscar Williamson, a 17 -year -old high school student from New York State, under his red cap “Make America Great Again”. The young man says he supports the migration policy of the Republican: “We have welcomed too many migrants, it is not good for the economy and there are security problems,” he said.

“I do not support Trump, I did not vote for him and I do not like his policy, I have always been a democrat but I like a good military parade, I like a good air show,” said his father, Paul Hagenloch, history professor at the University of Syracuse, disappointed not to see the latest generation B-2 bombers.

This demonstration of force is unusual in the United States, where the last major military parade dates back to 1991, after the Gulf War. And if officially this demonstration celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Army, the fact that it takes place on the day of the 79 years of Donald Trump is particularly significant, while the Republican continues to push the limits of the presidential power.

The day had started under sad auspices in the United States, where Melissa Hortman, 55, elected from Minnesota and her husband were killed at their home on Saturday morning. A “deliberate act of political violence”, denounced Tim Walz, governor of this state of the North.

Read our article about the murder of the American elected representative Melissa Hortman and her husband

“Threatened democracy”

The country was also the theater on Saturday of hundreds of demonstrations called “No Kings” to protest against the “authoritarianism” of Donald Trump and “the militarization of our democracy”.

If thousands of spectators were expected at the military parade, on the budget quantified at $ 45 million, the “No Kings” protest movement aims to be “the most important since the return to power of Donald Trump”.

Watch the demonstrations against Donald Trump on video through the United States

In Los Angeles, after rallies against the brutal arrests of immigrants, the thousands of demonstrators paraded under the gaze of the soldiers sent by Donald Trump to try to overcome the violence. The members of the National Guard, which monitor certain buildings, were brought up by the procession, but did not respond.