Former Vice President Pence condemned President Trump’s deployment of troops to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, asserting that violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and those responsible must be held accountable. He further criticized Trump’s pardoning of January 6th rioters who assaulted police officers. Pence also criticized President Putin’s actions in Ukraine, suggesting the current administration should not seek advice from him regarding the Israel-Iran conflict. This multifaceted critique highlights Pence’s sharp disagreement with Trump’s handling of both domestic and international issues.
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In response to President Trump’s increased immigration enforcement, Bishop Michael Pham, the first U.S. bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV, is organizing a show of solidarity. On June 20th, priests and faith leaders will accompany migrants to immigration court, providing support during their legal proceedings. This action, supported by fellow bishops and echoing Pope Francis’s previous concerns, highlights growing religious opposition to the Trump administration’s policies. Simultaneous diocesan Masses will also be held in support of immigrants.
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Internet trolls mocked Donald Trump’s military parade by contrasting its comparatively small turnout and less synchronized marching with the impressive displays of other nations, including North Korea, Mexico, and India. Social media posts highlighted the stark differences in scale, crowd enthusiasm, and marching precision, emphasizing the perceived failure of Trump’s highly-expensive event. The contrasting images fueled criticism of the parade, described by some as a “vulgar display” and a stark contrast to massive simultaneous No Kings protests across the US. This incident follows Trump’s past admiration for other countries’ military parades and his prior pronouncements about showcasing American military might.
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Despite significant resources—including 36 horses, 28 Abrams tanks, 6,700 soldiers, and millions of dollars—Donald Trump’s military birthday parade was largely underwhelming. The parade itself featured minimal excitement, with unsynchronized marching, infrequent cheers, and long stretches of quiet punctuated by announcements. While the initial anticipation and the concluding fireworks and speeches generated some enthusiasm, the main event fell short of expectations, leaving many attendees, including children, bored and unimpressed. The event’s overall energy was significantly less than projected.
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Widespread “No Kings” protests erupted across major US cities, coordinated to oppose President Trump’s military parade in Washington D.C. These demonstrations, numbering nearly 100,000 in Philadelphia alone, followed politically motivated shootings of Democratic politicians in Minnesota. While largely peaceful, the Los Angeles protest saw clashes with law enforcement, resulting in the use of tear gas after protesters threw projectiles. Motivations ranged from opposition to Trump’s immigration policies and deployment of the National Guard to concerns about presidential overreach and attacks on democratic norms.
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President Trump’s highly publicized military parade, ostensibly celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, drew smaller-than-expected crowds to Washington, D.C. The two-hour event, featuring 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft, was widely seen as fulfilling Trump’s long-held desire for a large-scale military display. However, the parade’s cost of $45 million and its comparatively low attendance contrasted sharply with the massive anti-Trump protests held across the nation. The event’s significance, therefore, remains contested.
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Representative Jake Auchincloss criticizes the President’s deployment of 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines to Los Angeles as both unnecessary and illegal, violating posse comitatus. This action forces Marines trained for combat against foreign enemies to undertake ill-suited urban policing, requiring them to abandon years of training for inadequate preparation. The deployment demoralizes the troops and places young officers in an untenable position, forcing them to choose between obeying an unlawful order and their constitutional oath. The situation is further compounded by the availability of better-suited law enforcement resources to handle the situation.
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The Bulwark’s JVL, Sarah Longwell, Will Sommer, and Andrew Egger discussed the stark contrast between Donald Trump’s poorly attended military/birthday parade and the massive, nationwide “No Kings” protests. These protests drew unprecedented crowds, highlighting a significant division in public opinion. The discussion was part of a Bulwark+ Takes video, available to subscribers. Audio-only options were also provided.
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Millions participated in nationwide “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration’s actions, including the deployment of troops to quell other demonstrations. These largely peaceful protests, occurring in all 50 states and internationally, drew hundreds of thousands in major cities and significant numbers in smaller towns. While some protests resulted in unlawful assembly declarations and clashes with law enforcement, many thousands more demonstrated peacefully, even in the face of political violence and credible threats. The scale of these protests, exceeding previous demonstrations against the administration, underscores the growing opposition to Trump’s policies.
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A self-imposed boycott by Canadians, stemming from President Trump’s antagonistic policies and rhetoric, has effectively created an insurmountable, albeit imaginary, wall between the two nations. Decades of Canadian tolerance for American cultural influence now faces a backlash fueled by Trump’s actions, leading to decreased tourism and trade. This shift reflects a growing Canadian patriotism and a desire to distance themselves from the current state of American politics. The resulting economic impact on the United States underscores the previously underappreciated value of the Canada-US relationship, even as the two countries diverge ideologically and politically. Ironically, Trump’s attempts to diminish Canada have inadvertently strengthened Canadian national identity.
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John Q. Hosedrinker